PORTLAND -- An Monday autopsy prompted Portland police to determine that a suspicious death in Northeast Portland is a homicide.
The dead man was identified as Marcus John Chambery , 49. The cause and manner of his death were not revealed. Police said Chambery had been living in the Portland area but could not find a specific address for him.
A passerby flagged down a police officer shortly before 11 a.m. at Northeast 32nd and Weidler Street after spotting an unresponsive man. Detectives arrived soon thereafter and set up a mobile police precinct. The body was surrounded by what looked like a makeshift camp.
Neighbors were troubled by the death.
"I think it's scary, you know? I want answers," said neighbor Cameron Root. "Why is there a death three blocks down from my house?"
Root said he wouldn't be surprised if the deceased man were a transient given how close the camp was to the Fred Meyer store's bottle recycling and exchange center.
Police say they can't make assumptions or conclusions.
"Our detectives are very thorough, " said police spokesman Sgt. Greg Stewart. "What we don't want to do accidentally miss something. So they'll be out here probably for a number of hours examining the area and canvassing, talking to people in the neighborhood."
The Fred Meyer store manager says the site where the body was discovered had recently become a gathering spot for transients.
He said the former Albina Fuel location will become a condominium development.
