The suspect who fired shots at police in the Centennial Neighborhood has been taken into custody and the shelter-in-place order is being rescinded.
On Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 8:09p.m., East Precinct responded to a report that a wanted suspect was seen in the area of Southeast Division Street and Southeast 143rd Avenue. The named suspect was an adult male wanted related to a recent homicide case. Officers located the suspect leaving an apartment and driving away in a vehicle. Officers deployed spike strips and deflated the tires of the vehicle. The suspect drove to an apartment in the 2700 block of Southeast 148th Avenue and was challenged by police officers. He produced a handgun and began firing shots at the officers. Officers moved to positions of cover and the suspect ran into an apartment. He continued firing numerous shots at police from inside the apartment.
Due to the immediate threat of death or serious physical injury to police and community members, officers surrounded the apartment, closed area roads and sidewalks, and activated the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT). The Air Support Unit and small Unmanned Aerial System (drone) operators also assisted.
Incident Commanders activated the Public Alerts system to notify nearby community members of the incident with an order to stay inside, lock doors and windows, and stay away from external windows.
At 12:03a.m., the suspect came out of the apartment and surrendered to police. He was arrested. The suspect will be identified after he is booked on charges.
No shots were fired by police officers, and no injuries have been reported.
After an investigation by Homicide Detectives, the suspect, Jessie Garza III, 30, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on a warrant for Murder in the First Degree with a Firearm, Coercion with a Firearm, Burglary in the First Degree with a Firearm (2 counts), Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon (2 counts). The charges are related to the December 14, 2023 homicide of Richard Newman.
He was also booked on probable cause of Attempted Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon for shooting at police officers. Additional charges are possible.
