Portland driver accused of murder after rampage leaves 1 dead, 9 hurt
Detectives do not believe the attack was politically motivated
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A driver who went on a deadly rampage in Portland, Ore., on Monday afternoon -- killing one person and striking nine others -- has been charged with murder and other offenses, according to media reports.
Paul Rivas, 64, of Woodland, Wash., allegedly struck multiple pedestrians across several blocks. He remained in a hospital.
Rivas was charged late Tuesday with murder in the second degree and six counts of assault, Bonnie Silkman, a reporter with FOX 12 of Oregon, posted on Twitter.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Portland resident Jean Gerich, 77, was taken to a hospital and died from her injuries after the deadly incident. The Oregon State Medical Examiner ruled she died of blunt force trauma and determined the manner of death to be a homicide.
Five others were also taken to hospitals with non-critical injuries, police said. Two of the nine victims were cyclists while the rest were pedestrians.
"The multiple hit and run crashes by the same suspect yesterday were traumatic for our community," police Chief Chuck Lovell said in a statement.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A driver struck at least nine people, killing one, in a rampage that was spread over multiple city blocks, police said. (Portland Police Bureau)
Officers received a call around noon about a witness who reported seeing a car driving at a high rate of speed that almost hit someone. Another call came in an hour later that a vehicle had struck someone.
The driver eventually crashed and fled on foot. He was "corralled" by community members and held until the police arrived.
Investigators believe the driver's actions showed the intent to hit and injure people. They did not find evidence that Monday's incident was an act of terrorism or politically motivated. Detectives are still checking dispatch records for additional calls that may have reported the vehicle.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jean Gerich, 77, died after being struck by a vehicle during a deadly rampage Monday afternoon. (Portland Police Bureau)
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In a statement released through the Police Bureau, Gerich's family said she was a cancer survivor and had received her first COVID-19 vaccination shot last week and was "overjoyed to get out in the world again."
"She was a loving mother of two. She was a proud grandmother of five, ages 4 to 16," the statement read. "She would have turned 78 in twelve days."