3 injured at NE Portland street fair

A 16-year-old suspected of shooting three people at the Last Thursday event on Alberta Street in northeast Portland appeared Friday in Multnomah County Court.

Turon Lamont Walker Jr. faces three counts each of attempted murder and unlawful use of a weapon. Attempted murder is a Measure 11 crime, so Walker is being prosecuted as an adult.

Additional charges may be added, the Portland Police Bureau said. The Oregonian reported on Friday that Walker is from Vancouver.

Two Portland police officers were patrolling the popular Alberta Street festival on foot around 6:45 p.m. when they heard gunshots, according to Multnomah County court documents.

The officers ran in the direction of the gunshots and found three victims. One of the officers saw the alleged shooter run from the area and throw a black semi-automatic handgun into the air, court documents said.

The caliber of the recovered handgun matched the shell casings found in the street.

The suspect, identified as Walker, was eventually taken into custody. Walker told Detective Brian Sims that he shot at somebody who he thought was ‘eying him,’ according to court documents. After talking with police, Walker wrote an apology letter to the victims, Damon Terrell Knighten, 15, Nayuntre Latrell Hurd, 15, and Ashley Quinae Perry, 25. Their injuries were described as not life-threatening.

Portland Police Bureau Sgt. Pete Simpson said it’s unclear if all three were intended targets. The police department’s gang unit blocked off the street and investigated the scene on Northeast Alberta Street.

Walker was arrested and booked into the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Home in Portland. Two men accused of interfering with the investigation, Marcus Cooper, 26, and Loren Ware, 23, were also arrested.

Portland has been struck by a wave of street gang violence this spring, with six shootings in the last week.

Anyone who witnessed the shooting or events leading up to it, is asked to contact Detective Meghan Burkeen at 503-823-2092, meghan.burkeen@portlandoregon.gov; or Detective Brian Sims at 503-823-2079, brian.sims@portlandoregon.gov.