Portland Police Bureau officers investigating a fatal shooting found a man dead on a sidewalk early Saturday morning in the Buckman neighborhood. If police determine this shooting to be a homicide, it would mark the 22nd in Portland for 2026 as authorities search for the suspects and urge public tips.
Early Morning Gunfire on Southeast 12th Avenue
Portland Police Bureau officers responded to reports of gunfire on the 700 block of Southeast 12th Avenue just after 2:30 a.m. on Saturday. Specifically, officers were sent around 2:34 a.m. to investigate reports of a shooting. When units arrived, they found one person dead on the sidewalk. According to dispatch audio obtained by KATU, it appears the victim was shot in the chest.
The suspect or suspects had already left before officers arrived, and no arrests have been made at this time, police said. Portland Police did not provide any additional details about the victim, potential suspects, or any known motive attached to the shooting. During the investigation, Southeast 12th Avenue was closed between Southeast Morrison Street and Southeast Alder street, and Southeast Morrison Street was closed between Southeast 11th Avenue and Southeast 12th Avenue.
Neighborhood Reaction and Homicide Statistics
Tony Boldrini was walking his dog in the area after getting off work, and described hearing the gunshots unfold nearby. I [could] tell it wasn’t fireworks,
Boldrini recalled.
“I can tell exactly what I was hearing by the cadence. It was very much like, ‘pop, pop, pop, pause, pop,’ and it was just very, very creepy. It gave me kind of a shiver up my spine right away.”
Tony Boldrini
Phil Hubert lives in the neighborhood and told FOX 12 that he loves the area. It’s very walkable,
he said. There’s a lot of stuff you can go to. You have a lot of supermarkets, a lot of restaurants, a lot of bars.
Saturday morning, he got some news he did not expect when someone was shot and killed just four blocks from where he lives. You gotta be aware of your surrounds. I’ve never had any issues. I walk around here at night. So, I’m really surprised,
Hubert said. I hope they find whoever did it.
It’s really scary,
said Abby Taylor, who moved to the neighborhood three years ago. Taylor added, “When you live alone and you take public transit, it makes it nerve-wracking going to and from work every day and the fact that the suspects are still at large, it makes it really scary … especially at night.”
Police data shows that Saturday’s shooting is the second homicide in the Buckman neighborhood since July 2025. If police determine this shooting to be a homicide, it would mark the 22nd homicide Portland has seen in 2026, according to Portland Police. Despite that statistic, Portland Police say the city’s homicide rate is still down compared to this time last year.
Active Investigation and Police Appeal
The Portland Police Homicide Unit is investigating what happened. It is unclear what led to the shooting and whether it was targeted. FOX 12 also asked where the victim was shot and how many times as well as where the suspect might have gone, but a spokesperson said that information is confidential.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the case, who has not yet spoken to investigators, to reach out. Tips can be emailed to [email protected] or called in to (503) 823-0479 by referencing case number 26-252563.
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