Latest surge in gang violence has Portland police concerned

Gang tags cover a mailbox and residential garage door in Portland. Police say gang activity in the city is building.
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Story Published: Feb 11, 2008 at 8:24 AM PST

Story Updated: Feb 11, 2008 at 9:29 AM PST
By KATU Web Staff
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PORTLAND, Ore. - A teenage boy was shot Sunday night in Northeast Portland in what police say is an ongoing spike in gang-related shootings and gang activity in the city.

The shooting took place just after 9 p.m. on Northeast Killingsworth Street near Northeast 67th Avenue. Police said it appeared to be a drive-by shooting. The victim is expected to survive his injuries. He was reportedly shot in the stomach. His identity has not been released.

The shooting Sunday is the latest in a string of five shootings in the Portland area in just the last 10 days.

Last week, a 14-year-old male was shot near East Burnside Street and East 148th Avenue. He was not fatally injured. Police say the shooting took place between rival Hispanic gangs.

Previous to that shooting, other incidents between suspected gang factions have police worried about the rise in gang member numbers and associated violence in the Portland area.

"From my personal experience I would say it's definitely on the increase," Russ Corno of the Portland Police Bureau said. "There's more gang members in the metropolitan area than at any time in the last 10 years that I've worked gangs."

Police say one of the most difficult aspects of investigating gang-related shootings is the lack of information they are able to get from witnesses.

Very often, even the victims in a shooting are unwilling to identify shooting suspects.

Witnesses and shooting victims are often fearful of being labeled a "snitch" on the street, which can lead to reprisal attacks.

Police also said budget cuts have hurt their ability to combat gangs in the city.

Police said they are still looking for the vehicle involved in the shooting on Sunday.


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