Portland sets another record high in homicides

According to the Oregonian, 78 of the victims have died in shootings.

On Wednesday, in Southeast Portland’s Cora Park Apartments, a man died in a shooting and one hour later a second person was killed in a shooting in Northeast Portland’s Parkrose neighborhood.

Police said that on Thursday a third shooting outside a bar in St. Johns left a man in critical condition.

Mayor Ted Wheeler told the Oregonian that his priority for the remainder of his time in office is to address homelessness and crime. In a statement issued to the outlet, Wheeler pledged to increase the staffing of sworn officers and unarmed public safety specialists.

Wheeler also cited the Police Bureau’s Focused Intervention Team and Enhanced Community Safety Team, which concentrates on gun violence and community outreach.

"At the same time, we will redouble our ongoing street-level outreach efforts, revamp the work of the Office of Violence Prevention, and expand our community partnerships to offer actionable options to those now engaged in gun murders to step away from their violent lifestyle and make sustainable change," Wheeler said.

Wheeler added that for those "who won’t step away from the violence," he would seek harsher, possibly federal prison sentences for gun crimes because, "Justice for the victims and their loved ones demands nothing less."

Homicides and 911 response times have been on the rise since the city defunded its police department in 2020 leading to Wheeler calling for budget increases for police just a year after the defunding.