13-Year-Old Boy Critically Injured After Being Struck With Tire Iron In Southeast Portland

Portland, Ore. – A 13-year-old boy is in critical condition after being struck with a tire iron in Southeast Portland on Saturday evening, according to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). The victim, identified as Jamari Woodard, was stabbed in the head with a tire iron, as reported by his family. He is currently undergoing treatment and recovering at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

Michelle Bart, a spokesperson for the family and president of the National Women’s Coalition Against Violence and Exploitation, provided an update on Jamari’s condition. She stated, “He’s fighting for his life at Doernbecher’s… and he’s under great care with the team there but he’s still not woken up, and we’re hoping that will change in the next 24 to 48 hours” (KGW).

The incident occurred in a neighborhood near Southeast Foster Road and Southeast 122nd Avenue around 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 24. Deputies from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office initially accompanied the injured teen to a local hospital. The sheriff’s office then requested assistance from the Portland police, indicating that the teenager had been seriously injured when someone threw a tire iron into the moving car where he was seated.

The victim was promptly taken to Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside, where medical professionals successfully removed the tire iron from his skull. Subsequently, he was flown to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital for further treatment (KGW).

PPB officers spoke with witnesses at the scene to verify the details, and detectives from the Major Crimes Unit are currently conducting an investigation into the incident.

Michelle Bart expressed the family’s desire for answers and justice, stating, “I’m not going to speculate on the person who has done this. We don’t know if it was intentional… we don’t know if it was accidental. What we do know is that a 13-year-old innocent boy is in pediatric ICU, and we need him to be okay” (KGW).

No arrests have been made at this time, and Portland police have not released any suspect information, citing the ongoing investigation. They urge anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Detective Brett Hawkinson at [email protected] or email [email protected], referencing case number 23-166081.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist with Jamari’s medical expenses, and it has raised over $5,500 within 24 hours.