On this day, May 5, 1903, James Beard, US culinary expert, author (Delights & Prejudices), was born in Portland, Ore.
Also on this day, May 5, 1945, A Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain in Oregon, killing Mrs. Elsie Mitchell, the pregnant wife of a minister, and five children after they attempted to drag it out the woods in Lakeview, Oregon. The balloon was armed, and exploded soon after they began tampering with it. They became the 1st and only known American civilians to be killed in the continental US during World War II.
Also on this day, May 5, 1945, Bly minister Archie Mitchell, his pregnant wife Elsie, and five children from Mitchell's Sunday school class were on a Saturday morning picnic. Thirteen miles northeast of Bly, or about sixty miles northeast of Klamath Falls, Mitchell parked the car, and Elsie and the children headed to Leonard Creek. Mitchell later remembered: "As I got out of the car to bring the lunch, the others were not far away and called to me they had found something that looked like a balloon. I heard of Japanese balloons so I shouted a warning not to touch it. But just then there was a big explosion. I ran up there--and they were all dead." It was a Japanese balloon bomb. They were 70 feet tall with a 33-foot diameter paper canopy connected to the main device by shroud lines. Balloons inflated with hydrogen followed the jet stream at an altitude of 30,000 feet.
Portland patrol resources drained
The Portland Police Bureau's Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) has reported there were seven shootings in almost 15 hours, beginning just after 2 a.m. through 6:50 p.m. on Tuesday, September 21, 2021.
The first shooting occurred at 2: 20 a.m. at SE 67th/SE Ogden Street. Officers responded to reports from several callers regarding multiple shots fired. More than 10 cartridge casings were located. No victims or related property damage was located. Case #21-263320
A couple hours later at 4:30 p.m., at NE 82nd/NE Sandy Blvd, officers responded and learned an individual was shot and wounded. The victim suffered a non-life threatening injury. Officers extensively canvassed the area, but are uncertain exactly where this incident occurred, but believe it was near the Grotto, which is located at 8840 NE Skidmore Street. Case #21-263395
Later in the morning, at 11:09 a.m., officers responded to NE Prescott/NE Sandy Blvd on a shots fired call. Officers discovered multiple cartridge casings in the area. Preliminary information suggests that this was a drive-by shooting. There were no known injuries at this time. Case #21-263604
At 1:54 p.m., Officers responded to a call of an individual with a gunshot wound who walked into a local hospital. The victim suffered a non-life threatening injury. Based on preliminary investigation, the Officers believe the shooting occurred in the 500 Block of NE Multnomah Street. Case #21-263753
Just over an hour later at 3:07 p.m., another individual walked into a hospital with a gunshot wound. The victim was uncooperative with police and suffered a non-life threatening injury. The individual claims the injury occurred at a shooting at an unknown location in Portland overnight. Case #21-263821
At 6:02 p.m., East Precinct responded to this area on multiple reports of shots fired. Multiple people on foot were shot at by suspects in a drive-by style shooting. There were no reported injuries. Case #21-264030
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Shortly after at 6:50 p.m., officers responded to the 5900 block of SE 72nd Avenue on numerous reports of shots fired. Officers located several cartridge casings at the crime scene. A related unoccupied stolen vehicle was located a short distance away after it was involved in a traffic crash. There were no known injuries reported. Case #21-264061
These incidents required significant numbers of officers, sergeants, detectives, and criminalists to investigate, and drained resources for patrol.
These shootings are ongoing investigations and any additional information will be released at the direction of ECST.
--Ben Fisher| Post Date: 2021-09-23 08:48:48 | Last Update: 2021-09-23 22:08:13 |
