Portland Police have identified the suspect from the officer involved shooting on July 21, 2021. 32-year-old Joshua Lyle Merritt was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Menacing.

The involved officer will be identified later today and will be interviewed within 48 hours of the incident. The officer is on paid administrative leave until the completion of the investigation.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Additional information will be released at the direction of investigators.

If anyone has information about this incident and has not already been interviewed by police, please contact Detective Michael Greenlee at Michael.Greenlee@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0871, or Detective Brad Clifton at Brad.Clifton@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0696.

As part of the use of force review process, the Bureau will conduct an internal review of the entire incident, including the initial response, resources requested, tactics used, and post shooting actions. The case will go before the Police Review Board (PRB), which is composed of community members, Bureau members, and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.

The Portland Police Bureau directive outlining the procedures followed after an officer involved shooting may be found at https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/article/656780

Once the entire investigation and legal process is complete, the investigative files and any grand jury transcripts will be posted on the Bureau's Open Data page. This is the fourth Portland Police officer involved shooting in 2021. Information available about past officer-involved shootings can be found here: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/76940 .

###PPB###

###ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW###


On July 20, 2021 at about 9:36 p.m., Portland Police were dispatched to an unwanted person in a convenience store in the 600 block of Northwest Naito Parkway. Prior to arrival officers were told the man was a white male adult who had taken food without paying then laid down on the floor refusing to leave.

Officers arrived at approximately 9:44 p.m. At approximately 9:52 p.m., an officer on the scene reported that police had been involved in a shooting. At about the same time, officers asked for medical aid for the suspect.

Officers spent several minutes trying to reach the suspect who had moved further into the convenience store. They reached him at about 9:56 p.m. and got him medical attention.
The suspect was transported to the hospital by ambulance with a non-life threatening wound.
No officers were harmed during this incident.

The Portland Police Homicide Unit is on scene investigating. If anyone has information about this incident and has not already been interviewed by officers, please contact Detective Michael Greenlee Michael.Greenlee@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0871 or Detective Brad Clifton Brad.Clifton@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0696.

"This is a situation that no officer wants to face. We are in the preliminary stages but will conduct a thorough investigation," said Chief Chuck Lovell, who was at the scene. "I want to thank everyone who responded to the scene as well as those who were out taking emergency calls in the city." Chief Lovell personally notified Mayor Ted Wheeler of this incident and the mayor's chief of staff was at the scene.

The name of the involved bureau member will be released tomorrow, as per Bureau policy. The involved officer will remain on paid administrative leave until the completion of the investigation.

The Bureau may release additional information as appropriate. The involved officer will be interviewed by investigators within 48 hours.

As part of the use of force review process, the Bureau will conduct an internal review of the entire incident and the case will go before the Police Review Board (PRB), which is composed of community members, Bureau members and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.

This is an active and ongoing investigation. The Portland Police Bureau directive outlining the procedures followed after an officer involved shooting may be found at https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/article/656780

Once the entire investigation and legal process is complete, the investigative files and any grand jury transcripts will be posted on the Bureau's Open Data page and can be found here: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/52175
###PPB###

An officer involved shooting investigation is underway in the 600 block of Northwest Naito Parkway. One white male has been transported to the hospital by ambulance with what appears to be a non-life threatening wound. All officers are unhurt. There is no ongoing threat to the community.

Northwest Naito Parkway between Northwest Everett Street and Northwest 9th Avenue will be blocked during the investigation. The PIO is at the scene. Media Staging is near Northwest Ironside Terrace and Northwest Naito Parkway.
###PPB###