Lovell Addresses Violence After Officer-Involved Shooting

PORTLAND, OR —Chuck Lovell, chief of police of the Portland Police Bureau, on Tuesday addressed the recent violence in the city as more details came out about Monday's officer-involved shooting on Interstate 5.

"The last few days have been particularly violent, with shootings, four homicides, one fatal crash and an officer-involved shooting and all of the crimes prior to it," Lovell said in a statement. "We know our community is concerned about the rise in violence and we are doing our best to respond and investigate these crimes.

"I know this violence causes trauma for our whole community, including our first responders. I want to commend the tremendous work by PPB members who respond to violent scenes and do their jobs with the highest levels of professionalism, integrity and compassion, despite the toll it takes on them. And I also want to assure the community that we're working hard to ensure Portland remains a vibrant and safe place for everyone."

Also on Tuesday, the PPB revealed the name of the officer involved in the I-5 shooting: John Hughes, a 17-year veteran of the bureau. The bureau said Hughes was put on paid administrative leave until the completion of the investigation, and that he would be interviewed within 48 hours of the incident.

Portland Police have not named the suspected carjacker killed in Monday's incident, and they've asked the public for any additional information they believe is related to the suspect.

According to The Oregonian, at about 10 a.m. Monday, police shot and killed the armed suspect on I-5 near the Lombard Street exit. Police said the man drove on the freeway in the wrong direction while pursued by police and attempted another carjacking.

The suspect, police said, fired an additional shot on the freeway, wounding a woman in another car. The woman is expected to survive.

According to police accounts of the incident, officers initially responded at 9:30 a.m. to reports of a home invasion and a stolen car near Northeast Grant Place and 32nd Avenue.

Officers said they learned the suspect eventually ditched the first stolen car, and then forced passengers out of a second car at gunpoint.

The second car, a Saab, crashed on I-5 near Rosa Parks Way. At that point, the suspect attempted to steal another car at gunpoint and was shot by officers, police said.

The Oregonian reported that nearly 40 police and medical units responded to the incident, which shut down the freeway in both directions.

A source familiar with the investigation told The Oregonian that multiple officers fired shots on the freeway.

Police said anyone with additional information about Monday's incidents should contact detective Erik Kammerer by email at Erik.Kammerer@portlandoregon.gov or by phone at 503-823-0762, or they can contact detective Shaye Samora by email at Shaye.Samora@portlandoregon.gov or by phone at 503-823-0768.