Portland Police Seeking Public's Help in Solving 2009 Homicide

This week, Homicide detectives have been distributing an informational flyer in the neighborhood asking for the public's help in identifying two young men that were seen on Southeast 57th Avenue at the time of the gunfire.

52-year-old Joseph "Joey" Lawrence Erzen

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Portland Police Bureau Homicide Detectives are asking for the public's help in solving the 2009 Southeast Portland homicide of 52-year-old Joseph "Joey" Lawrence Erzen.

On Saturday, August 22, 2009, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Portland Police officers responded to numerous calls of shots fired in the area of Southeast Flavel Street and Southeast 60th Avenue. When officers arrived, they found an unoccupied parked vehicle with several fresh bullet holes.

Officers then began checking the area for victims, and found Erzen suffering from a gunshot wound at his residence at 5706 Southeast Flavel Street. Erzen was in his bedroom at the time he was struck by bullets that entered his bedroom from outside the home. Erzen died at the scene. At this time, it is not believed that Mr. Erzen was the intended target of the gunfire.

This week, Homicide detectives have been distributing an informational flyer in the neighborhood asking for the public's help in identifying two young men that were seen on Southeast 57th Avenue at the time of the gunfire. These two young men were observed leaving westbound on Southeast Malden Street from 57th Avenue and might be able to provide detectives with information which could assist in this case.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in this case, or any unsolved felony, and tipsters can remain anonymous. Call Crime Stoppers at 503-823-HELP (4357), leave a tip online at www.crimestoppersoforegon.com, or text 823HELP plus your tip and send it to CRIMES (274697).

Source: News release from the Portland Police Bureau