PPB Involved in Critical Incident in Pearl District

Portland police say officers were involved in a critical incident on February 5, 2026, in the Pearl District near Northwest 14th Avenue and Northwest Raleigh Street. In the bureau’s first notice, PPB said there was no ongoing threat to the public and that streets in the area were closed while investigators processed the scene. (portland.gov (opens in a new tab))

The bureau later said the man killed in the shooting was Erik D. Sherrer, 57, of Portland. According to PPB, officers had been serving a search warrant and an arrest warrant at an apartment building in the 1600 block of Northwest 14th Avenue after a January 31 incident at a grocery store in which Sherrer allegedly pointed a handgun at security officers, pulled the trigger, and fled with the gun when it did not fire. PPB said he left behind a loaded shotgun with threatening messages written on the shells. (portland.gov (opens in a new tab))

PPB said members of SERT and CNT tried to get Sherrer to surrender, evacuated residents on the floor, and later deployed irritant gas before he emerged from the apartment holding a handgun. The bureau said two officers fired, and that a Portland Fire & Rescue paramedic embedded with SERT later determined Sherrer was dead. PPB also said no officers or other community members were injured and that the officers involved were placed on administrative leave, which it described as standard protocol. (portland.gov (opens in a new tab))

The bureau said its internal review will cover the initial response, tactics used, and the post-shooting response, and that the case will go before the Police Review Board. It also said investigative files and grand jury transcripts will be posted after the investigation and legal process are complete. For families or witnesses affected by a police shooting or a violent incident, records, witness names, and medical documentation can matter quickly, especially when injury claims or wrongful death questions follow.(portland.gov (opens in a new tab))

Sources

1. PPB Involved in Critical Incident in Pearl District (opens in a new tab) - Portland Police Bureau, 2026-02-05