On the evening of July 29, 2022, a burst of gunfire shattered the nightlife in Portland's Old Town district, leaving a young man's life cut short. Lauren Teyshawn Abbott Jr., a 19-year-old male, was fatally wounded in the encounter. The incident unfolded near the 500 block of NW Couch St. around 9:31 p.m., a time when the area is typically alive with activity.
When police arrived at the scene, they discovered a chaotic situation with two individuals struck by bullets.
Emergency medical aid was rendered at the scene, and Abbott Jr. was rushed to a local hospital. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, he was later pronounced deceased. The medical examiner would go on to determine that the cause of death was a homicide resulting from a gunshot wound. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, another victim with life-threatening injuries arrived at a hospital by private vehicle, adding to the grim toll of the night. The area around the shooting was cordoned off for hours as detectives and forensic teams meticulously processed the scene for evidence.
The investigation into the shooting revealed that the incident was a shootout that occurred outside of Mary's Club. According to reports and video footage of the event, Lauren Abbott Jr. had drawn a firearm, which was followed by a bouncer for the club, Jascha D. Manny, returning fire. Manny, who was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time, was not certified to carry a firearm as a private security guard. In the exchange of gunfire, Abbott Jr. was killed and another individual, Kolby Ross, was wounded.
Following the investigation, the case was presented to a Multnomah County grand jury. In August 2022, the grand jury determined that there was no criminal wrongdoing on the part of Jascha D. Manny in the shooting death of Lauren Teyshawn Abbott Jr. and the injury of Kolby Ross. In the wake of the violence, a makeshift memorial was created along the sidewalk of Northwest Fifth Avenue at Couch Street, a somber reminder of the life that was lost. The family of Lauren Teyshawn Abbott Jr. was notified of his death and requested privacy during their time of grief.
