Two Arrested For Deadly Shooting In SE PDX

Portland, Ore. – Two men have been arrested for shooting and killing a man in Southeast Portland early Saturday morning. 19-year-old Christopher Watkins and 20-year-old Timothy Burks both face murder charges. The victim, 28-year-old De’Andre Rouse, was found shot to death at 151st and Stark. Detectives are still investigating and want to hear from any witnesses. Photo is of 19-year-old Christopher Watkins.

Read more from the Multnomah Co. District Attorney’s Office

Two men charged with murder in the second degree for intentionally causing the death of DeAndre Dewitt Rouse

Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced the filing of a single count charging document against 19-year-old Christopher Watkins and 20-year-old Timothy Burks following the homicide of 28-year-old De’Andre Dewitt Rouse.

Watkins and Burks are both charged with one count of murder in the second degree.

According to court documents, this investigation started at approximately 5 a.m. on January 4, 2020 when two Portland Police officers were in the area of Southeast 148th Avenue and Southeast Stark Street on an unrelated call when they heard multiple shots being fired from close proximity.

One of the officers observed a vehicle traveling toward her with two people inside, according to court documents. The vehicle fled the area at a high rate of speed.

Another officer ran to his patrol vehicle and pursued the vehicle as it traveled northbound on Southeast 148th Avenue with its lights off, according to court documents. The officer lost sight of the vehicle in the area of Northeast 128th Avenue and Northeast Glisan Street. The officer started performing an area check. During that search, the officer located an abandoned vehicle near the intersection of Northeast 128th Avenue and Northeast Clackamas Street.

According to court documents, the officer observed a significant amount of blood in and around the driver’s seat. Furthermore, the officer saw a blood trail leading from the vehicle.

Other members of the Portland Police Bureau responded to the area of Northeast 124th Avenue and Northeast Halsey Street after receiving information from neighbors that two people were in the area and that they appeared to be hiding from police and that one of the individuals was bleeding heavily, according to court documents.

Officers responded and contacted Burks who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm, according to court documents. Burks was arrested and will be arraigned at a later date.

Police eventually located and arrested Watkins at approximately 6:15 a.m. on January 4, 2020 in the area of Northeast 102nd Avenue and Northeast Sacramento Street after they determined that his girlfriend had arranged transportation for him using a ridesharing application, according to court documents.

According to court documents, additional officers responded to the area of Southeast 151st Avenue and Southeast Stark Street and located Mr. Rouse dead beside a vehicle. Police located multiple .9 mm and .40 caliber shell casings in the street near the crime scene.

After the shooting, officers responded to the area of Northeast 148th Avenue and Northeast Glisan Street and located a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun in the bike lane, according to court documents. Police also located a .9 mm semi-automatic handgun nearby.

The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office determined Mr. Rouse died of homicidal violence as the result of a gunshot injury.

This case is being investigated by the Portland Police Bureau’s Homicide Detail. Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to contact Detective Mark Slater at 503-823-9319 or [email protected] or Detective Erik Kammerer at 503-823-0762 or Erik.Kammerer@portlandoregon.gov.

Like in all criminal and civil matters, electronic copies of court documents, which are not subject to a protective order, are available to the public through the Oregon eCourt Information (OECI) system.

No additional information can be released by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office at this time pursuant to the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct.

A charging document is only an accusation of a crime. Watkins and Burks are innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office works closely with the City of Portland’s Office of Youth Violence Prevention and attends the bi-weekly Community Peace Collaborative meeting, which is a coalition of law enforcement, service providers and community members who are focused on encouraging people to take a stand against gun violence.

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