In the spring of 2022, a bright Friday in Portland, Oregon, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 33-year-old Fars Gebrehiwot, a Black man. On April 8th, just before noon, the area underneath the Burnside Bridge on Northwest Naito Parkway became a crime scene. It was there that Gebrehiwot was shot in the neck, a fatal wound that would end his life despite the efforts of first responders.
Witnesses at the scene described a chaotic and sudden turn of events.
One bystander recalled hearing a loud "bang" and turning to see a man in a ski mask and flip-flops fleeing the scene, heading towards Couch Street. In the immediate aftermath of the gunshot, this witness saw Gebrehiwot bleeding profusely before he collapsed to the ground. An urgent plea to "stay awake" was shouted to him as he lay there, a desperate attempt to hold onto the life that was quickly slipping away. Paramedics arrived and rushed Gebrehiwot to a nearby hospital, but the severity of his injury was too great, and he was pronounced dead. The state medical examiner would later rule his death a homicide.
The investigation into the shooting moved swiftly, and an arrest was made shortly after the incident. The suspect was identified as 18-year-old Rizo Eonte Lucas. He was taken into custody and booked at the Multnomah County jail, where he was held without bail. Lucas was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon in connection with the death of Fars Gebrehiwot. In the days following the tragic event, Gebrehiwot's family was notified of his passing and provided a photograph of him for public release, while also requesting privacy during their time of grief.
