PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland police arrested a suspect Friday afternoon in connection with one of two separate fatal shootings that happened across the city within a span of about two hours between late Thursday night and early Friday morning.
Officers responded to the first shooting around 11:47 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19. They arrived at an apartment near Northeast Prescott Street and Northeast 42nd Avenue in Portland's Cully neighborhood and found a man dead. Police later identified him as 19-year-old Dazani S. Roberts, also known as Dazani Nathan. The medical examiner determined he died from a gunshot wound and ruled his death a homicide.
"All I heard last night was a couple bangs and then 15 minutes later about 30 cops were all down the street with tape and in the parking lot," neighbor Hudson said. "They came to knock on everyone's door which I suspected they would."
The suspect, or suspects, had left the area before they arrived, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) said. Police have not arrested anyone connected to the case. Portland Police Homicide Unit detectives are investigating.
Around 2:03 a.m., a little more than two hours later, police officers responded to another shooting about five miles away near Southeast Taylor Street and Southeast 86th Avenue in the Montavilla neighborhood and found a man dead. Police idenftified him as 45-year-old Gregory W. Newman of Portland. The medical examiner determined he died from a gunshot wound to the chest and ruled his death a homicide.
Homicide detectives booked 38-year-old Christopher A. Grohs in Multnomah County jail on charges of second degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon, according to a news release from the Portland Police Bureau.
Police confirmed to KGW at the scene that they had detained a man believed to be involved in the shooting, who had stayed at the scene. The Friday afternoon news release confirmed that the detained man was Grohs.
The Portland Police Homicide Unit is investigating both shootings. As of Jan. 20, three people have died in shootings in Portland since the start of 2023.
Police asks for help with shooting investigations
Portland police are asking anyone with information about the shooting near Northeast Prescott Street and Northeast 42nd Avenue to contact Detective Jason Koenig at Jason.Koenig@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0889, or Detective William Winters at William.Winters@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0466 and reference case number 23-18018.
Anyone with details on the shooting near Southeast Taylor Street and Southeast 86th Avenue is asked to contact Detective Scott Broughton Scott.Broughton@police.portlandoregon.gov or (503) 823-3774, or Detective Eric McDaniel Eric.McDaniel@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0833 and reference case number PP23-18085.
This is a developing story and it may be updated when more information becomes available.