Gresham Police Investigate Double Homicide on New Year's Eve (UPDATE)

Police are looking for suspects or people who might have seen the incident take place.

Salem-News.com

(GRESHAM, Ore.) - UPDATE: The East Multnomah County Major Crimes Team, in cooperation with the East Metro Gang Enforcement Team, Portland Police Bureau's Gang Enforcement Team and Portland Police Bureau's Hotspot Enforcement Action Team, interviewed the family and friends of the victims as well as the residents of the apartment complexes near the homicides, and arrested 17 year-old Raymond Andrew Lawrence of Portland.

Gresham Police believe that this crime is a result of gang-related activity. There are no suspects outstanding, but Detectives are continuing their investigation.

Original report:

Gresham Police responded to the Barberry Village apartment complex in the 200 block of SE 188th over a report of three gunshots coming from in front of the apartment complex.

It happened New Year's Eve at 7:59 PM.

Officer Adam Baker with Gresham Police says another resident of the apartment complex called police saying that there were a couple of people firing off guns as they ran through the complex.

Baker says police arriving on the scene quickly located an adult black male lying in the street. He was identified as 18-year old Darius Jerrel Perry of Portland.

"Medics were called to treat Perry's injuries, but he died at the scene. Detectives and crime scene investigators were called in to begin the investigation."

Police interviewed numerous friends and relatives of Perry, Baker said, and canvassed the neighborhood.

"While Police were doing this, they located a second deceased victim, behind a building in The Pines apartment complex, just north of the Barberry Village apartments," Baker said.

"The second victim, also a black male, was identified as Willy Lewis Butler, also 18 years old, of Portland."

Baker says police expanded their ever-changing crime scene to include the second victim's location and began interviewing the residents of The Pines apartments also."

Autopsies showed that both men died of gunshot wounds. At this time, Police are continuing their investigation into this complex case, including any connection the two victims may have had.

Baker says no suspect information is available at this time, but Detectives are following up on leads from witnesses and relatives.

Police are looking for suspects or people who might have seen the incident take place.

Anyone who has information that might help Police are urged to call the Gresham Police Tip Line at (503) 618-2719 or 1-888-989-3505.