MILWAUKIE, Ore. — Milwaukie police officers arrested a suspect after multiple armed carjackings in Clackamas County on Monday night.
According to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s office, their own deputies and Milwaukie police responded to multiple calls of carjackings in various locations involving multiple victims. The spree began around 5 p.m. on Monday in the Clackamas Town Center where Gary Johnson, 38, allegedly stole from the Macy's and committed the first of three armed carjackings.
One site included the Milwaukie Self Storage parking lot near Southeast Harmony Road and Southeast International Way in Milwaukie. A witness told KGW he saw a man running across the parking lot as a woman sat on the ground, crying. Milwaukie police arrested the suspect in another parking lot in the same business park.
Two out of the three victims were injured in the carjackings. A man was treated for a non-life threatening injury at the scene of the first carjacking near the Macy's.
The third carjacking near the Milwaukie Self Storage involved a woman who was physically assaulted by the suspect, according to police. Johnson shot a gun at her, but it is unclear if she was struck by the bullet. She was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
A third person, a woman who attempted to intervene, was also assaulted by Johnson, according to authorities, and was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Officers said they're thankful the suspect is in custody as calls like this can be complicated and dangerous.
“It's pretty chaotic and extremely stressful for everybody involved—the victim and responding officers,” said Milwaukie police officer Brad Walther. “Typically information that's coming across is either old information or developing as you arrive so it's a pretty stressful situation for everybody.”
Johnson was charged with robbery I, unlawful use of a weapon, attempted murder in the second degree and assault I.