In the Hazelwood neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, on the evening of March 9, 2025, the life of 33-year-old Kevin Rhinehart was tragically cut short. At approximately 7:03 p.m., officers from the East Precinct were dispatched to the 10500 block of East Burnside Street following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered a male victim, later identified as Kevin Rhinehart, who had succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The subsequent investigation by the Medical Examiner would confirm that Rhinehart's death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound. In the immediate aftermath, no arrests were made, and the Portland Police Bureau's Homicide detectives began the arduous task of piecing together the events that led to the fatal shooting. As the investigation unfolded, authorities learned from witnesses that an argument, reportedly concerning a child, had taken place just before the fatal shots were fired.
For nearly a month, the investigation continued as detectives followed leads in the case. The efforts of law enforcement culminated in a significant breakthrough on Monday, April 7, 2025. Far from the streets of Portland, in Killeen, Texas, members of the U.S. Marshals Service located and apprehended a suspect. The individual taken into custody was identified as 35-year-old Che Bell, a resident of Portland. The arrest brought a new chapter to the investigation, and Rhinehart's family was notified of this pivotal development.
Following his arrest, Che Bell was held in the Bell County Jail in Texas. He faces serious charges, including Murder in the Second Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Authorities have indicated that Bell will be extradited back to Oregon to face the charges against him, though the specific timeline for his return has not been publicly detailed. The Portland Police Bureau acknowledged the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bell County Sheriff's Office, and the Killeen Police Department in the apprehension of the suspect. While an arrest has been made, the investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have encouraged anyone with information who has not yet spoken with police to come forward.
