Portland Police Arrest Suspected Shooter After Violent Incident Leaves Man Critically Injured
PORTLAND, Ore. — A suspected shooter has been arrested following a shooting incident at Southeast 106th Avenue and Southeast Stark Street on Wednesday, April 23, at 5:58 p.m. that put one victim in hospital with critical injuries. Another man was also nabbed during the investigation for unrelated crimes.
Following reports of gunfire, Portland Police Officers from the East Precinct found evidence of gunfire, including 16 ammunition casings, but no victims or suspects at the scene. Officers established that a 41-year-old man was dropped at a nearby hospital with gunshot wounds.
Someone who dropped the victim at the hospital gave police a description of a vehicle used. After an alert officer spotted the car, they attempted to stop the driver, who eluded at high speed.
Due to the danger to the community and involved officers, they did not pursue the driver in the hope that he would slow down and stop recklessly driving on public streets.
The driver continued driving recklessly and crashed his car at Northeast 122nd Avenue and Northeast Glisan Street before running into the neighborhood.
Officers set up a shelter-in-place with a perimeter from East Burnside Street to Northeast Glisan Street, Northeast 122nd Avenue to Northeast 127th Avenue.
They notified residents of the potential danger in the area. The Air Support Unit, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS or drone) Unit, K9 Unit, and on-duty SERT members were called in for assistance, and police arrested the suspect, DeShawn R. Nichols, 30, of Portland, after they found him hiding under a deck.
Investigators believe the person arrested was not involved in the shooting but booked Nichols into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) on an outstanding arrest warrant and charges that included an Attempt to Elude Police and Endangering Another Person. A stolen gun was found and seized in his vehicle.
Detectives with the Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) and Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) members pursued the investigation.
After witnesses provided helpful information and evidence was found, officers identified a suspect as Amir J. Christianson, 21, of Portland. Detectives also located two handguns after a search warrant was served in the 2500 block of Northeast 15th Avenue. They were seized as evidence and will be tested.
On Tuesday evening, detectives found Christianson and called in SERT and the Crisis Negotiation Team or CNT. SERT arrested Christianson after discovering information about other crimes he committed against members of his family.
The shooting victim had serious, potentially life-threatening injuries but is recovering in hospital and is expected to survive his injuries. Christianson was booked into the MCDC on charges of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and Assault in the First Degree, as well as Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
Further charges of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree-Domestic Violence, Using a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct, and Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree were also laid.
The investigation is ongoing, and Portland Police asked anyone with information about this case or crimes committed by Christianson to email [email protected] attn: ECST and reference case number 25-105207.
Tips can be submitted anonymously by visiting the Crime Stoppers of Oregon website or downloading P3 Tips from the App Store. If a tip leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony crime, Crime Stoppers offers up to $2,500 in cash rewards. Tipsters may remain anonymous.