Shooting adds to string of Montavilla neighborhood violence

Evidence of shots fired was found near the Montavilla neighborhood, the latest in a string of shootings in the area.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Evidence of shots fired was found near the Montavilla neighborhood early Saturday morning, the latest in a string of shootings in the area.

Over the past couple of months, Portland Police have responded to several shootings in the area—one of them fatal.

Montavilla resident Corey Christiansen has followed the news surrounding the shootings in the area with the online Montavilla Public Safety Page. At the most recent shooting on NE 84th and Glisan Street, police found evidence of gunfire just after 4 a.m., but did not find anyone injured or any bullet holes.

“It’s definitely unnerving because they are not in just one spot,” said Chrstiansen. “They seem to be kind of moving around. There are different shootings happening in this greater neighborhood and it’s definitely unnerving, and kind of scary.”

About a month ago there were 4 shootings with a week’s time. The first in the series was on August 27. Officers responded to the area of NE Glisan St and 78th Ave after shots were fired. No victims were found from this incident. Neighbors said they heard gunfire 3 days later around August 30 on 78th Avenue, but again, did not see any victims. Then, on September 1, police said a man was shot and injured in the 300-block of NE 78th. He checked into the hospital, and was expected to survive. A day later, on September 2, Denise Elliott, 41, was shot and killed after a dispute at a park in the Montavilla neighborhood. Police said it happened on the 9200-block of SE Main.

“I don’t feel like it’s covered, which also makes me nervous,” said Christiansen. He would like to see more coverage of the incidents in the neighborhood to raise awareness. “It seems like all the crazy stuff started around the same time— the big fire that started down there.”

On Thursday, Montavilla neighbors held a listening session with police concerning the shootings.

“Things just started getting really active,” said Christiansen.

Portland Police said the Gun Violence Reduction Team has been investigating all of the shootings, including the most recent overnight shooting.

KOIN 6 News will continue to cover this story.