UPDATE: Suspects in Laurelhurst Search Identified, Charged (Photo)

July 24, 2023 13:44

The suspects in this incident are identified as 18-year-old Julius Whitehurst and a 15-year-old juvenile male. An AR-15 was recovered, as were ten .223 casings.

Whitehurst is charged with Attempted Murder, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and is being booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.

The 15-year-old juvenile is charged with Attempted Murder, Attempt to Elude in a Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He is being booked into the Donald E Long Juvenile Detention Center.

A third detained subject from the vehicle is also a juvenile and was released to relatives.

Investigators with the Enhanced Community Safety Team ask anyone with additional information about the incident who has not yet spoken to police to email crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 23-193663. Tips may be submitted anonymously.

Photograph: AR-15
Photograph: .223 casing
Photograph: Bullet Strike

###PPB###

***Original Message Below***

On Monday, July 24, 2023, at 2:31 a.m., officers from the North Precinct were in the area of Northeast 82nd Avenue and Northeast Fremont Street when they heard multiple rounds being fired. Officers were unsure if rounds were being fired at them or someone else. The officers were able to identify a vehicle involved in the shooting and attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver of the suspect vehicle did not stop, and a pursuit followed.

Officers pursued the vehicle to the area of Southeast 40th Avenue and East Burnside, where the vehicle crashed. Three suspects then ran from the vehicle and officers were able to quickly establish a perimeter. That perimeter encompassed the Laurelhurst neighborhood from Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and Southeast 44th Avenue, East Burnside to Southeast Ash Street. As officers believed these suspects to be armed and hiding in the neighborhood, they requested the assistance of the East Metro SWAT and the East Metro Crisis Negotiation Team to search of the suspects. The Emergency Notification System, or reverse 9-1-1 system, was used to notify area residents to stay in place.

During the search, SWAT officers, with the help of the Air Support Unit and Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones), located the suspects hiding in a neighborhood backyard. The suspects were cooperative and taken into custody.

Officers did locate evidence of a shooting at Northeast 82nd Avenue and Northeast Fremont Street. Thankfully, no victims of a shooting were located. The investigation is ongoing and any information related to arrests and charges will be released later. The Enhanced Community Safety Team will be leading the investigation and anyone with information related to his incident is asked to send that to crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 23-193663.

The peaceful resolution to this incident required officers from each precinct, the K9 team, the Air Support Unit, and drone operators. Portland Police Bureau’s Special Emergency Response Team and the Crisis Negotiation Team were still unavailable due to the events from Saturday. PPB is grateful to our East County partners for their valuable assistance.

###PPB###

###Original Message Below###

The East County Tactical Team is responding to a report of armed suspects in the area of Southeast 41st Avenue and East Burnside Street.

The area is closed. All traffic is blocked between Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and Southeast 44th Avenue, East Burnside to Southeast Ash Street.

The PIO is enroute to the scene. Media staging will be the east side of 4835 East Burnside Street, Southeast Precinct.

###PPB###

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