PORTLAND, Ore. — A man died and a woman was injured after a stabbing in Northeast Portland early Monday morning, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) reported.
The stabbing happened around 12:36 a.m. in the area of Northeast 42nd Avenue and Weidler Street. When officers responding to the reported stabbing arrived at the scene, they found a man and woman who were both injured. Officers gave first aid to both people but the man died. The woman was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.
Police reported later Monday morning that officers arrested a suspect, 38-year-old James David Hera. He faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.
The man who died was later identified as 30-year-old Nathan Dotson. PPB said that his family has been notified of his death.
The PPB homicide unit is investigating. During the investigation, police closed Northeast Weidler Street from 42nd Avenue to 43rd Avenue.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Meghan Burkeen at 503-823-2092 or meghan.burkeen@police.portlandoregon.gov or Detective Steve Gandy at stephen.gandy@police.portlandoregon.gov. Please reference case number 22-278556.
The city of Portland has grappled with an ongoing increase in violence over the past few years. There were 88 homicides in Portland in 2021, up from 57 in 2020 and 36 in 2019, according to a police dashboard that tracks crime statistics. Portland police reports there have been 76 homicides in the city this year, which puts Portland on pace to exceed last year's number of homicides.
Here's a look at the number of homicides in Portland each year since 2016, according to the PPB dashboard:
- 2022: 76 (as of Oct. 12)
- 2021: 88
- 2020: 57
- 2019: 36
- 2018: 26
- 2017: 25
- 2016: 16
VIDEO PLAYLIST: KGW Headlines on Demand