High-speed chase follows fatal Gresham shooting

GRESHAM, Ore. (KOIN) — Three people are in custody in Kalama following a police pursuit that began after a fatal shooting near a Gresham school.

The shooting happened around 2:30 p.m. in the area of 174th and Stark in Gresham.

A witness to the shooting that ignited the dangerous getaway spoke with KOIN 6 News but asked to have her identity concealed.

“I just heard 3 gunshots and they left. They also got a gun, we got really scared so we drop ourselves on the floor because we were scared they would shoot us, also,” the witness said.

Three people were spotted in the vehicle on I-205 and a pursuit by mulitple law enforcement agencies began.

The chase topped speeds of 100 mph and went across Multnomah, Clark and Cowlitz counties, multiple sources told KOIN 6 News.

Bobby Fowler was on northbound I-5 on his way to pick up his son when he saw WSP and other agencies chasing the suspects, bobby and weaving out of heavy traffic just before the Friday rush hour commute.

“I’ve seen it on the movies but never like that,” Fowler told KOIN 6 News. “You know it seemed like, it was just surreal.”

The cars involved in the chase were “cruising,” he said. “It was wave after wave after wave after wave of police. Probably that first wave was 10-plus cars and then a short break, more cops. Then a short break, more cops.”

Fowler said more police kept joining.

“Originally there was one cop with a spiked strip. Then there was two. On the side of the highway, one more up here, then 2 more on the on-ramp and so they knew what they were doing.”

Washington State Patrol Trooper Will Finn tweeted the suspect’s car was disabled by troopers along northbound I-5 near milepost 32 in Kalama.

All three suspects are in custody. Incredibly, no one was hurt during the chase.

The victim’s name has not been released.

Homicide detectives were at the scene in Gresham and one was sent to Kalama. The East Metro Gang Taskforce was notified, and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office is aware of the situation.

Alder Elementary School was in a brief lockdown, but it was lifted shortly after 3 p.m. All the students are safe.