Gunfight in Aloha wounds 2 as bullets hit nearby houses
ALOHA, Ore. (KOIN) — A gunfight outside an Aloha church early Monday critically wounded one, injured another, sent bullets into homes in the neighborhood and landed two people in jail as police look for another suspect.
The shooting around 6 a.m. happened in the parking lot of the Eden Presbyterian Church near Southwest 185th Avenue and Selvarosa Court with the houses behind the church and across the street catching the rounds as they flew.
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Neighbors who spoke with KOIN 6 News said they were badly shaken by the incident.
Angie Hart, whose house was caught in the crossfire, said a bullet landed just feet away from where her granddaughter was sleeping.
“I saw the detectives out here, saw forensics was explaining to my granddaughter what forensics and detectives do, and she’s, like, ‘Oh, I wonder why if that’s the reason there’s a hole in the wall in my room,” Hart said. “Oh my God, just, you know, a few feet down further and a few feet over she would have been, you know.”
“I did hear, like, I don’t know, it sounded like six gunshots and I was, like, dead asleep,” Crystal Gonzalez said . “So I really thought I was, like, dreaming or something. And I guess I wasn’t dreaming.”
Solomon Garcia said they heard some shots, “and since it was so close we kind of got startled.”
Following a multi-hour search, deputies reported they had arrested 21-year-old Matteo Greene of Portland and an unnamed 17 year old, also from Portland.
“Interviews and surveillance video showed Greene and the 17-year-old attacked two other people before multiple people started shooting at each other,” officials in a release. “One victim was shot in the stomach and taken to a hospital with critical injuries.”
Greene had also been shot in the leg, prompting officials to take him to the hospital for treatment before his arrest. He now faces charges of attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, and unlawful use of a weapon, and a probation violation.
The teen also faces attempted murder and assault charges and has been placed in custody with the Washington County Juvenile Department.
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Officials say they believe four people had been involved in the shooting. But Washington County Deputy David Huey told KOIN 6 News they don’t yet have a motive for the gunfight.
“Investigators found at least five neighboring homes were hit by gunfire, including rounds that went into living rooms and bedrooms,” deputies said. No one in the houses was hurt.
This incident caused Angie Hart to reflect on the state of the area in the last few years.
“I just know that in the area, compared to when my grandparents were younger, living here, my parents were here, we didn’t have — they didn’t have — this kind of violence in the area,” Hart said.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has a security camera set up nearby is asked to contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
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