PORTLAND, Ore. — It was just before 6:30 Sunday night when Portland police officers responded to reports of a man who had been stabbed in Southwest Portland. Officers found him on the MAX train at the Goose Hollow station off Jefferson Street and 18th Avenue.
He later died at the hospital. Police are still searching for the suspect.
The next morning on a wet and dreary start to Christmas day, neighbors took caution.
“I think it’s very sad that someone would go to such lengths to murder someone on Christmas Eve. Any time is terrible, but it breaks my heart,” said Carmen Minor, who lives in the neighborhood.
“That’s the crazy part: Christmas Eve? Really? You’re going to say, ‘Let me stab someone on Christmas Eve?’” added Vaughn Hutchins, who also lives nearby.
The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) said there was an altercation between the victim and the suspect at the Providence Park MAX station platform off Morrison Street and 18th Avenue. Afterward, the victim somehow got onto the train and ended up one stop away at the Goose Hollow station. That was where the police responded around 6:30 Sunday night.
Leftover yellow crime tape was still tied to the telephone poles on Christmas Day.
“I can tell you that detectives do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public,” said PPB's public information manager, Mike Benner, at a media briefing Sunday night. “Officers are doing everything in their power to track down those responsible on this holiday.”
However, many who live in the area feel differently.
“It’s ridiculous. They see what goes on. They see what’s going on here. I don’t know how they can say there’s no danger to the rest of us … I don’t feel safe here at all. I don’t feel safe in this neighborhood,” Minor said.
Because of that, she said riding the MAX train is simply out of the question.
“Not an option. The bus is not an option either. I don’t trust mass transit. It’s not safe,” Minor said.
TriMet said in a statement that they share their condolences with those dealing with the loss and the loved ones of the person who died.
Anyone with information on this incident, who has not yet spoken to police, is asked to contact Detective Jason Koenig at jason.koenig@police.portlandoregon.gov or Detective William Winters at william.winters@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 23-331064.