Boy, mother hurt in targeted Gresham shooting

GRESHAM, Ore. (KOIN) – A 9-year-old boy and his 29-year-old mother were critically wounded early Monday in what detectives believe was a targeted shooting inside their Gresham home.

Officers responded to an apartment in the 1300 block of Northeast 183rd around 4:30 a.m. after receiving reports of gunshots in the area. A nearby patrol officer arrived within moments and found the boy and his mother, Cherie Thompson, critically injured. They were rushed to a hospital.

Gresham Police spokesperson Detective Adam Baker says it’s unclear how many shooters broke into the apartment or how many shots were fired.

Gresham Police Tip Line: 503.618.2719

Jalaunda Beamon, the woman’s mother and the boy’s grandmother, told KOIN 6 News a 1-year-old baby in the house was unharmed.

“I really don’t know why, I don’t know why somebody can do something so cruel, to shoot a kid, and I just thank God my granddaughter got out of the house in time,” Beamon said.

The boy’s other grandmother, Lynette Bryant, also spoke to KOIN 6 News. “Who wants to assassinate a 9-year-old kid, who has a bright future? That’s heartbreaking. He’s a beautiful kid, he’s an honor roll student,” she says.

Neighbor Ed Galberth told KOIN 6 News he heard around 3 gunshots, but did not see anything. Galdberth said shootings in the neighborhood are fairly common.

In April 2017, an apartment building was struck by gunfire near the intersection of Northeast 183rd  Avenue and Northeast Wasco Street.

Police closed NE 183rd from Barr to Wasco Street for hours while the investigation was underway.

A gang enforcement team responded to the scene.