UPDATE: The man who was fatally shot by Portland Police Monday was 58-year-old Jack Dale Collins, who also went by the name Jackie.
Details are slowly coming out in the fatal Portland police shooting yesterday afternoon of an allegedly drunken transient, bleeding from self-inflicted wounds and threatening passersby at Hoyt Arboretum near the Oregon Zoo.
The man was fatally shot by Officer Jason L. Walters after the man brandished a six-inch razor-edged knife at the officer, according to Chief Rosie Sizer.
The dead man has been identified by the state medical examiner but his name is not being made public until his family is notified, police said.
Medical Examiner Karen Gunson said the man likely died from excessive bleeding from a gunshot to the leg which hit a major artery. He was shot four times in the arms and hip, in what the police log indicates was two bursts of gunfire about 30 seconds apart.
While the log describes the man as a "drunk" transient, Gunson told reporters she found no obvious evidence of alcohol on the remains, and that toxicology tests will take four to six weeks.
Walters, a respected 13-year veteran of the bureau, still has not been interviewed on what happened, and an expected grand jury investigation will be wrapped up in a couple of weeks, Chief Sizer said.
Spontaneous Protest
A group of demonstrators spontaneously marched on the Traffic Division on SE Burnside Street last night in protest against the Hoyt Arboretum shooting, mistakenly believing it is still the East Precinct.
Chief Sizer said she was disappointed that the protestors caused property damage, although none were arrested.
Oregon Public Broadcasting is reporting that a citizens meeting to discuss responses to the shooting at Hoyt Arboretum is at 6 p.m. tonight at Col. Summers Park.
On Sunday, the citizens group (I'm) Everyday People plans a Palm Sunday Prayer Vigil at sites where unarmed people have been fatally shot by police officers.
Starting at 3 p.m. on March 28, mourners will travel to six different sites to commemorate the lives of Deontae Keller, Kendra James, James Jahar Perez, Dickie Dow, and James Chasse.
The group is asking participants to bring candles. For more information, email [email protected], or call 503-962-9607.
Police Log
The transcript of the computer-generated incident log released this morning to the public described the man as intoxicated, White, 5' 8" tall, apparently in his 50s, wearing a green jacket over a tan hoodie and jeans, and carrying a plastic bag.
He was bleeding from self-inflicted cuts to his face and neck.
Chief Sizer said witnesses at the scene who pointed out the man to officers have not yet been located, and they are urging members of the public who saw what happened to come forward and call Mark Slater at 503-823-9319.
Police were called to the scene by a park ranger, Sizer said.
"I understand that Police Commissioner Dan Saltzman again will ask Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Shrunk to transcribe the Grand Jury review of this matter and ask that those transcripts be released," Mayor Sam Adams said today in a statement. "Since 2005, serving in an elected capacity, I have supported such efforts to maximize police accountability and transparency."
Adams continued, "Based on the details and circumstances in my briefing, this event reflects a very sad situation. However, until we have gathered all of the facts, I will reserve judgment."
Officer Attacked, Bureau Says
Sizer said a park ranger called 9-1-1 yesterday reporting that a blood-covered man armed with a "razor knife" was threatening bystanders at Hoyt Arboretum.
The bureau says Officer Jason Walters arrived at the Arboretum at 3:24 p.m. and confronted the man in the bathroom near the facility's office.
The scene played out as follows, according to a spokesperson:
"The officer retreated and gave repeated commands to the subject to drop the razor knife, but the subject refused to do so. The officer and the subject began moving out of the bathroom area, with the subject still approaching the officer with the razor knife. At this point, the officer fired shots at the subject. The officer immediately requested medical assistance and the subject was pronounced dead upon Medical's arrival."
Investigators are looking for more witnesses to the scene to flesh out the complete story of what happened, they said.
Anyone who saw the incident is asked to call Detective Mark Slater at 503-823-9319.
