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Portland police have identified the victim of Friday's fatal police shooting in Lents Park as 46-year-old Douglas Delgado. (According to arrest records, Douglas is Delgado's middle name. His first name is Robert.)
Delgado was a familiar face in and around Lents Park, according to neighbors.
Jennifer Fahey, who has lived in the Lents neighborhood for decades, said Delgado was homeless at the time of his death. Fahey, who knew Delgado as "Robert," would regularly offer Delgado meals, showers, and a couch to sleep on over the course of the past six years. She said he had been beat up and robbed while living outside multiple times.
"He was nice and funny and caring and always trying to make someone laugh," said Fahey.
She said she believed Delgado had some kind of untreated mental illness, one that made him especially paranoid of the police and government institutions.
"He always thought the cops were after him," Fahey told the Mercury Saturday afternoon on a phone call. "I guess he was right, in some way."
Chef and cannabis educator Liv Vasquez, a winner on Netflix's Cooked with Cannabis, will prepare a private three-course CBD-infused dinner at Jupiter NEXT.Liv Vasquez via Instagram
4/20, every stoner's favorite cannabis-centric holiday, is almost upon us. Get ready to toke up with our guide to the trippiest events, such as SPLIFF Film Festival and the premiere of Chopped 420 with Portland-born comedian Ron Funches, and some choice munchies, from a vegan CBD potato chip donut at Doe Donuts to a private three-course CBD dinner from chef Liv Vasquez at Jupiter NEXT. Plus, check out our pot shop directory and our list of 4/20 deals if you need to stock up before Tuesday.
EVENTS APRIL 16-24 & ON DEMAND 2021 SPLIFF Film Festival As everyone's favorite day to smoke weed draws near, it's time for another installment of short cannabis-themed films made for and by stoners just like you! You'll have a grand old time watching the screenings themselves, but you'll be even more delighted by this year's live(streamed) viewing parties hosted by various dynamic weed-loving duos, from The Stranger's Chase Burns and Jasmyne Keimig to Seattle drag stars Cookie Couture and Betty Wetter to comedians Alyssa Yeoman and Erin Ingle. You can also check out SPLIFF 2019 and SPLIFF 2020 on demand whenever you want. Online
Hawthorne is one of Portland's most vibrant districts, offering a diverse mix of retail, bars & restaurants, arts and services. These businesses could use your support now more than ever and are offering safe visitor experiences:
Imelda's & Louie's - A Portland favorite for 26 years and counting, Imelda's and Louie's Shoes carries an unmatched selection of shoes and accessories for men and women. Explore their new Apparel & Gift store for delightful home goods, and chic, wearable clothing.
Memento pdx - Memento pdx, is a locally owned gift shop, that carries something for everyone! A mix of cute, curious and collectible.’
@memento.pdx
Altar - Altar is a flagship apparel company and retail store featuring independent artists! We proudly make our Houseline clothing in the USA and celebrate handmade design!
Echo Theater Company - Echo Theater Company resumes in person camps & classes this February with limited class sizes. Private and semi-private lessons, and virtual classes also available.
37th Street Salon - Serving Hawthorne and Portland since 1978, we are experienced professionals offering sophisticated, creative hair styling. Open 7 days a week, we are located in the iconic Bagdad Theater Building and offer products from AVEDA and MoroccanOil.
1512 SE 37th St
503-238-4056
Presents of Mind - Dedicated to carrying and supporting many local and independent designers, our goal is to enhance people's lives by offering high quality, fun & affordable goods while providing quality service in a fun atmosphere.
Adorn - With award winning artists, highly trained piercers and the PNW’s largest selection of fine quality body jewelry Adorn has been proudly serving the community for over 20 years.
Savvy Plus - Located in Portland's famous Hawthorne shopping district we provide beautiful clothing for everyone. Featuring plus size up to 3X high-quality women’s clothing at great prices. Our friendly staff is here to help you find that new outfit you have been wanting. Visit us today!
The officer responsible for fatally shooting a member of the public in Lents Parks Friday has been identified as Zachary DeLong. According to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), DeLong has worked for the department for eight years.
PPB has yet to release the name of the man who was killed early Friday. Witnesses to the shooting described a white man in his 30s who appeared to be having a mental health crisis before he was shot. PPB officials say the man was pointing a gun before he was shot, but have offered no other information on the alleged weapon—let alone the actions leading up to the man's killing.
The deceased man's name will be released only after the county medical examiner conducts an autopsy and notifies his family.
DeLong served in the US military before joining law enforcement.
In 2014, DeLong helped coax a suicidal man down from a building ledge 60 feet off the ground in downtown Portland. The incident, detailed in an Oregonian story, mentioned DeLong relying on crisis intervention training to help the man. According to a 2015 story by the Gresham Outlook, DeLong's father also worked as an officer for the Gresham Police Department.
DeLong was also identified by Willamette Week in 2014 as one of 19 PPB officers who "liked" another officer's photo that read "I am Darren Wilson," a nod at the Ferguson, Missouri police officer who killed Michael Brown.
Per PPB protocol, DeLong has been placed on paid administrative leave while the incident is investigated.
The scene at Lents Park on Friday morning. Alex Zielinski
Update, 4:50 pm:
According to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), officers have concluded their crime scene investigation at Lents Park and have left the area. There are still few answers coming from PPB regarding the deceased victim’s identity, the actions leading up to his killing, and whether he was carrying a gun.
Demonstrators have remained at the park throughout the afternoon, with some briefly blocking the intersection of SE Holgate and 92nd Ave. to protest the shooting. Several people in the crowd threw water bottles and sticks at heavily-armored riot police as they departed. Per the PPB’s latest press release, officers “deployed inert smoke canisters in an attempt to help [riot police] leave.” PPB also claims someone deflated the tires of one police vehicle at the scene. No one was arrested.
Protests are expected to continue into Friday evening at Lents Park. Follow the Mercury on Twitter for on-the-ground updates starting around 7 pm.
Update, 1:40 pm: The Portland Police Bureau has issued a press release recapping what they previously revealed in this afternoon's press conference (see below) about the fatal police shooting this morning in Lents Park. The one significant piece of new information involved the officer who fatally shot the deceased. From the PPB press release:
The involved Bureau member is an 8-year veteran assigned to East Precinct. The member’s name will be released tomorrow, as per Bureau policy. The involved officer will remain on paid administrative leave until the completion of the Bureau, East County Major Crimes Team, and Multnomah County District Attorney Office's investigation.
While the press release clarified that one officer used fatal force, two other officers had also fired "less-lethal" 40 mm rounds at the victim.
Mayor Ted Wheeler shared the following statement with media:
"These shootings always are traumatic for everyone involved and for our community, regardless of the circumstances.
I want to offer my sympathy to the individual involved and to their family. My thoughts also are with the officers who were involved.
I visited the scene this morning to show respect for the individual, their family, the officers, and our community. I received a preliminary briefing and will continue to receive updates as information becomes available.
I recognize why people are concerned and possibly angry. While our understanding of this incident evolves, I urge everyone to proceed with empathy and peace."
Update, 12:45 pm:
PPB Acting Chief Chris Davis provided scant details of the shooting at a 12:30 pm press conference.
Davis did confirm that the victim of the police shooting died, and that he was a white man who was reported to have been holding a gun. However, he could not provide the man's identity or other information about him.
Davis said that "both less-lethal and lethal force were deployed by the officers" who responded to the scene. When asked whether the man was pointing a gun at officers before being shot, Davis did not comment. Davis also could not respond to questions about how many shots were fired by police, whether multiple officers used lethal force, or whether police recovered the gun the man was allegedly holding before being killed.
There are not other known injuries to community members or police officers, Davis said.
Protesters have been gathering near Lents Park following the shooting, and a high number of police officers have also appeared, some of them in riot gear. Davis said PPB "had to summon just about every police officer in Multnomah County" to police the protesters. He added that the public "can expect significant delays" on police calls today, because of how the bureau chose to allocate all its resources to policing the protest.
PPB Chief Chuck Lovell is currently on vacation, and Davis said he had not had a chance to speak with Lovell yet.
Update, 12:25 pm:
The Portland Police Bureau is holding a press conference to address the shooting at 12:30 pm. You can watch it here when it starts:
The Portland Saturday Market returns for its 48th season this weekend! Mask up and get yourself some tie-dye.Portland Saturday Market via Facebook
Portland may see temps in the low- to mid-80s this weekend, but pandemic safety precautions are still very much a necessity, especially since the majority of Oregon residents over 16 won't be eligible for a vaccine until next week. That said, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the weather without risking your health. Read on for our suggestions, from the Saturday Market reopening to National Park Free Day, and from our favorite places to get boba (like Ding Tea and Tea Social) to the Road Rage Drive-In at Portland International Raceway. For even more options, read our guide to the best online events this week.
OUTDOORS Book tickets to Oaks Park, which reopens to the public on Saturday at reduced capacity. As always, admission gets you access to rides (including the brand-new AtmosFEAR, a 360-degree experience where riders are set on a terrifying trip above the midway). Roller skating, miniature golf, and games are sold separately. Speaking of advance tickets, be sure to snag yours for next weekend's live comedy event at the amusement park, presented by The Mercury and featuring sets from the likes of Amanda Arnold, Becky Braunstein, and Shain Brenden. You might also check out this weekend's Mixtape Revival Series, a drive-in night of '80s and '90s throwbacks with local cover band Hair Jordans.
Oregon gets its very first Shake Shack location in Beaverton today.Shake Shack
Rejoice: Shake Shack opens its long-awaited first Oregon location at last today! Plus, the Vietnamese cafe Portland Cà Phê soft-opens this weekend, an "extreme milkshake bar" featured on Shark Tank is headed to Vancouver, and Ciao Vito has closed after 16 years of business. Read on for all that and more exciting culinary developments. Be sure to also check out the lineup for the Portland Mercury's Pizza Week 2021. For more ideas, check out our food and drink guide.
NEW OPENINGS AND RETURNS Breakside Beer Cart The lauded brewery opened a beer cart inside the new CORE (Collective Oregon Eateries) pod on April 8. Southeast Pickup or outdoor seating
Let the bells ring and the confetti fall: PIZZA WEEK IS BACK, BAY-BEE! While the pandemic may have cancelled last year’s festivities, local pizza restaurants have made great strides in pizza takeout technology, which now makes getting delicious slices safer for everyone—both makers and tasters!
So starting THIS MONDAY from April 19-25, the Portland Mercury's Pizza Week will make its long-awaited return, giving pizza-loving Mercury readers the chance to get special slices from some of Portland's finest purveyors of pizza pies... for a mere two dollars each! That's right: Each slice is just TWO MEASLY DOLLARS or, at participating venues, a WHOLE PIE for $16. (You heard correctly: This year certain Pizza Week participants may be offering $16 whole pies along with slices, or just whole pies alone. Be sure to check our Pizza Week locations to see who is offering what!)
Along with our pizza-loving pals at the SPLIFF Film Festival (tickets on sale now!) and EverOut Portland (the greatest event calendar in the city), the Mercury is proud to present what might be our greatest Pizza Week lineup ever—one that features 24 different pizzas at 30 Portland locations, available across the city and lovingly crafted by your favorite pizza masterminds.
WANT A PEEK AT THE PIZZA WEEK 2021 SLICES AND PIES? You can find them all right here! (Dear god, they look delicious. You should totally share a pic of your slice and tag it #portlandpizzaweek!)
WANT THE LATEST PIZZA WEEK 2021 INFO? Follow the Facebook event page for the latest live updates. This is a great resource for everyone who intends on sampling every slice!
Remember, our participating pizza places will be trying their best to deliver great slices and pies while KEEPING YOU AND THEIR EMPLOYEES SAFE. Please be patient, tip well, and follow their wise advice!
Before digging in, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Margherita Pizza from Mt. Hood Brewing Co. Tilikum StationSuzette Smith
The allure of eating wood-fired pizza inside a train car at Mt. Hood Brewing Company's Tilikum Station will be clear to many readers: They cook the pizza in an oven, heated by split logs of alderwood from Mt. Hood National Forest. And you can eat it on a train.
Continue reading »
Greetings, weed lovers! If you love or support everything cannabis, then you will not want to miss TONIGHT'S debut of the third annual SPLIFF film festival (from the makers of HUMP! and SLAY), streaming right at your gorgeous face starting today and running through Saturday April 24!
SPLIFF is where filmmakers, artists, animators, and stoners share original film shorts that examine and/or celebrate cannabis and its liberating effects on our imaginations, appetites, libidos, and creative energies. At SPLIFF, you'll see films that will make you laugh, films that will make you think, and films that will make you ask, "What the fuck was that?!" SPLIFF is a film festival by stoners, for stoners.
If that sounds fun... well, prepare for it to get even funner, because select screenings will include an optional live viewing party so you can enjoy this amazing lineup of stoner films with hilarious hosts as well as a live audience. Check out these great ticket options!
These weed-inspired flicks are as fun and crazy as you think, so get your tickets NOW to the most blazing film festival of the year... SPLIFF! STARTING TONIGHT!
Mike “Bretto” Jackson is used to getting phone calls at 2 am from men intent on killing someone.
As a mentor working with young men involved in Portland gangs, Jackson often takes on a role akin to an addiction recovery sponsor—someone who could potentially talk a person out of making a reactionary decision. In this case, that decision is whether to shoot someone associated with a rival gang, often in retaliation for a previous shooting.
“I tell them, ‘Look, I understand your pain, but there are consequences for your decisions,’” said Jackson. “I talk about options, about their future. But I also empathize with them.”
Jackson has the kind of lived experience that builds trust in the men he mentors, who range between 17 and 25 years old. Jackson first joined a gang at the age of 12 in his hometown of Los Angeles, following in the path paved by his older Black family members and neighbors. Jackson, a hip-hop artist also known by his stage name Libretto, maintained his allegiance with that gang after moving to Portland following high school. It took a stint in federal prison—and the pain of losing 20 friends to gang violence over the course of twenty years—for Jackson to change course. Jackson now works as a youth mentor at Rosewood Initiative, a wide-ranging community resource nonprofit in East Portland, and Community Healing Initiative, a county-funded collaboration between local nonprofits geared at decreasing youth violence.
The work has planted Jackson on the front lines of Portland’s recent uptick in deadly shootings.
• Newly released police body cam footage shows the tragic and infuriating reality of 13-year-old Adam Toledo's recent death in Chicago: The boy wasn't holding a gun, as police first claimed, when they killed him.
• Eight people are dead following a mass shooting at a FedEx warehouse in Indianapolis last night. Police say the shooter appears to have taken his own life as well.
• A "red flag warning" has been issued for fires in Western Oregon today—an extremely rare event for this early in the year—due to hot, dry, and windy conditions. Thanks, climate change!
• A woman detained during a 2019 protest is now suing a Portland cop for fabricating evidence in order to arrest her. Her lawyers allege the officer used the arrest as retaliation for expressing her disgust at the police's actions (specifically spitting on the ground nearby). Sounds like somebody (in a position of power, and with a gun) got their feelings hurt! Our Alex Zielinski has all the details.
"Because Ms. Ahern dared to demonstrate her visceral disgust with what she saw of PPB's conduct that day, Defendant Kammerer targeted Ms. Ahern for arrest," reads the lawsuit. https://t.co/zKIM0ebjrQ
• In order to stop Republicans from walking off the job whenever they're faced with legislation they don't like, Oregon state Dems have struck a deal to protect their agenda, agreeing to grant them veto power over any redistricting for the next 10 years. WOW! That's not only making a deal with the devil, it's encouraging the devil to continue acting like a devil baby whenever he doesn't get his way!
On May 5, the museum will open Ansel Adams in Our Time, an exhibit that "not only celebrates the famous landscape photographer but also offers new perspectives from a diverse range of photographers who worked before, alongside, and after him," per a press release.
Other upcoming marquee exhibits at PAM include:
• Queen Nefertari: Eternal Egypt, a celebration of "the roles women of— goddesses, queens, and commoners," opens October 16.
• Private Lives: Home and Family in the Art of the Nabis, 1889–1900, centering the work of four members of the "Nabi Brotherhood" in 19th century Paris, opens October 23.
Every time spring rolls around and yanks me from the jowls of my seasonal affective disorder, I feel like a whole new woman: an optimistic woman who enjoys iced caffeinated beverages, crop tops, patio happy hours, and hikes with Mother Nature. And this year, spring will also see us rise from the ashes of COVID-19, and slowly return to our regular scheduled programming of weddings, parties, and outdoor concerts—just in time for summer! There's more than enough to be hopeful about, but these four new releases provide a happy escape if you're still in need of a pick-me-up.
Aura III, ELHAE
The new 11-track project from exceptional singer-songwriter ELHAE dropped on April 9, and Aura III is thoroughly enjoyable alternative R&B. The third installment in his series for Motown follows Aura II, which came out back in 2017, and last year's Trouble In Paradise. Kicking off with the Rick Ross-assisted "Fun Fact," highlights include “My City (feat. Masego),” “Separated,” and “Sick of Playing (feat. Xavier Omar).” Expectedly, the R&B project tackles the rollercoaster of love and relationships. It's solid all the way through (no skips!), and is over before you know it; time flies when you're having fun, and the moody vibes here in Aura III are good.
The third annual SPLIFF returns this Friday with weed-induced short films made by and for stoners just like you!SPLIFF
This year's first spate of supremely sunny days is upon us, but before you unzip the bottom half of your cargo pants and swan dive into the Willamette, remember that vaccine eligibility for all Oregon residents over 16 is just days away, and that staying isolated now is your best bet at touching your face at the beach in the near future. So, for now, open all your windows and scroll through this week's most noteworthy online events, from the stoner film fest SPLIFF to readings with Joy Harjo and this year's Oregon Book Award fiction finalists. For even more options, check out our complete guide to COVID-safe April events.
THURSDAY
COMMUNITY A Climate of Change Learn how the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is addressing the calamities of climate change by adopting new Climate Crisis resolutions and growing its grassroots movement to protect Gorge communities from dangerous fossil fuel transport.
