'Suspicious death' at Portland Fred Meyer highlights Hazelwood Neighborhood crime issues
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A robbery call turned into a "suspicious death" at the Gateway Fred Meyer on Monday.
Just before 4 p.m., the Portland Police Bureau responded to reports of a robbery and shots fired near the Gateway Fred Meyer on Northeast 102nd Avenue. When they arrived, officers found an injured man in the parking lot. The man was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
The medical examiner will have more information about how the man died at a later time, officials said.
PPB later clarified to KOIN 6 News the initial call was about a stolen purse.
The Hazelwood Neighborhood is home to a number of major shopping centers, including Mall 205 and the Gateway Shopping Center, where this latest incident took place. However, it's also one of the neighborhoods in Portland that has been struggling for years with high rates of shooting incidents and crimes.
According to PPB statistics, between November 2023 and November 2024, there were 3,210 reported crimes in the Hazelwood Neighborhood. That's the third highest of any neighborhood in the city, behind the Downtown and Northwest neighborhoods. Those crimes in the Hazelwood Neighborhood include 9,691 reported assaults and 80 reported homicides.
PPB also tracks statistics about shooting incidents. From November 2023 to November 2024, there were 84 reported shooting incidents in the Hazelwood Neighborhood, the highest number of any neighborhood in the city.
About three years ago, a Starbucks store in the Gateway Shopping Center closed, citing safety concerns.
Hazelwood Neighborhood Association Board Member Ann McMullen told KOIN 6 News that she thinks the neighborhood needs more targeted policing efforts and investments in infrastructure.
The death investigation at the Gateway Fred Meyer is still underway. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact PPB.