PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland police identified a man shot and killed by officers while they were trying to serve a search warrant at a home Monday evening in connection with an earlier armed robbery.
Around 9:03 a.m., officers responded to reports of an armed robbery at a business near Northeast 111th Avenue and Northeast Halsey Street, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) said Tuesday afternoon. The suspects were gone when the officers arrived, and detectives determined two persons of interest were probably at a home near Southeast 124th Avenue and East Burnside Street.
At 5:15 p.m., detectives with PPB's Major Crimes Team and the Special Emergency Reaction Team were serving the search warrant. More than an hour later, at 6:34 p.m., while police were still serving the warrant, a man, identified on Thursday as 45-year-old Richard Perez, fired shots at officers, according to PPB.
Officers shot back at Perez and hit him. First responders were on scene and tried to save Perez's life, but he died on scene. Police said a gun was found near him.
Police have not released any details about the search warrant, since the case regarding the warrant is still active, PPB said.
Two Portland residents were arrested at the scene: Paige E. Smouse, 21, and Kristian M. Nelson-Trout, 22. Both were taken to at the Multnomah County Detention Center, with Smouse charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree robbery, as well as hindering prosecution; Nelson-Trout was lodged on a parole violation, PPB said.
No officers were injured in the shooting, police said, and the four officers directly involved will be placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol following any shooting involving an officer.
Portland Police Chief Bob Day responded to the scene. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler's staff and the city attorney's office have been briefed on the investigation, PPB said.
"I'm grateful that our officers are going home safe tonight," Day said while speaking with media on scene. "These incidents highlight the risks our folks take every day."
As part of the force review process, the bureau will conduct an internal review of the entire incident, which includes the initial response, resources requested, tactics used and post-shooting actions. The case will go before the Police Review Division, which includes community members, bureau members and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.
Anyone with any information about the officer-involved shooting is asked to reach out to PPB Detective William Winters at william.winters@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0466 or Detective Stephen Gandy at stephen.gandy@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503- 823-0449. Please reference case number 24-111902.
Anyone with information about the Monday morning armed robbery can contact Detective Rachel Baer at rachel.baer@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 24-111542.
This is a developing story, and it will be updated when more information becomes available.
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