2 found dead in SE Portland; neighbors say they woke to gunfire

PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) - Two men died in a shooting in the Centennial neighborhood in southeast Portland early Sunday morning, according to the Portland Police Bureau.

PPB said at about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to a shooting in the 16600 block of Southeast Naegeli Drive. When they arrived, they found a man dead. Shortly after, officers found another man dead in a shooting in the 17100 block of Southeast Naegeli Drive. Police have not said how the two scenes are connected.

The suspect left the scene and no arrests have been made. A suspect description was not released.

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A resident of the Township Eastside Apartments, Nichole Sanders, said she woke up to a spray of gunfire.

“Woke up to all of these gunshots,” Sanders said. “It was scary. Then, this morning I find everything taped off. So, I was just trying to find out what was going on. It was horrible.”

Sanders said she recently graduated from seminary school and moved into the complex a few weeks ago.

“It seems like a pretty quiet neighborhood when I was doing some investigating about places that were affordable,” she said. “To hear that there’s a double murder that happened, that’s frightening. That’s very frightening.”

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This marks the 27th Portland homicide of the year, and the 25th by way of gunfire.

Drew, who also lives nearby, said there’s been too many homicides this year.

“Innocent people shouldn’t be getting shot because that has happened multiple times too,” Drew said. “We’re trying to get out of here.”

With a shooting range close by, the sound of gunshots is common in around the Township Eastside Apartments.

“It was loud, it was right near the apartments,” Drew said. “So, I just ducked and that’s all I did. It’s $2,000 a month for an apartment, right here where people are getting shot.”

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Homicide detectives are investigating.

During the investigation, SE Naegeli Dr. is closed between Southeast Powell Boulevard and Southeast 174th Avenue. If anyone has any information, you’re asked to contact detective Brad Clifton at Brad.Clifton@police.portlandoregon.gov or (503) 823-0696 or detective Tony Harris at tony.harris@police.portlandoregon.gov or (503)823-0441.

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