A suspect is being detained after 2 people were seriously hurt in stabbings overnight in downtown Portland, and detectives are asking for information from any additional potential victims, witnesses, and people with information about evidence.
On Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 10:38p.m., Central Precinct officers responded to Pioneer Courthouse Square on a report of someone slashed in the neck. When officers arrived they found an adult male victim with a serious injury to his neck. The victim was transported to the hospital by ambulance where hospital staff were able to medically stabilize him. He is expected to survive his serious wounds. Officers immediately spread out looking for the suspect throughout the area.
As the search was underway, at 11:04p.m., officers were notified by dispatch of another stabbing call in the 700 block of Southwest 10th Avenue. When officers arrived they found an adult male with a stab wound to the chest. He was transported to the hospital by ambulance with serious injuries. After treatment, he is expected to survive.
Officers concentrated their search for the suspect to the area of the second stabbing, believing it could be the same suspect. At 11:15p.m., an Entertainment Detail officer located the suspect near Southwest 14th Avenue and Southwest Alder Street. The suspect fled on foot but after a short pursuit was detained.
The Portland Police Major Crimes Unit responded to the scene to investigate. Preliminary investigation indicates that the attacks were random and unprovoked. There is also information that the suspect may have been responsible for other attacks in the downtown core that evening that were not reported to police. In addition, police believe that community members may have located critical evidence in between the areas of Southwest 10th Avenue and Southwest Alder Street and Southwest 18th Avenue and West Burnside Street.
The suspect remains in custody and will be identified only after he is charged with crimes.
If anyone has information about these cases, any additional assault cases last night, or any evidence found by community members, they are asked to contact crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov attn: Major Crimes Unit and reference case number 23-224921.
