An Oregon lawyer who police say was shooting what looked like an assault rifle while on the balcony of his luxury apartment near Portland’s busy convention center was arrested Saturday after officers stormed his apartment complex fearing they had a mass shooter on their hands.

Michael Erin Gorman, 37, told police it was a BB gun.

Gorman said he had been using his BB gun to shoot beer cans on his balcony at the Yard apartments on the east side of the Burnside Bridge, according to a probable cause affidavit. A police officer with military training noted that from 10 feet away he couldn’t tell the difference between Gorman’s BB gun and an AR-15 or an M-4 rifle.

Michael Erin Gorman, 37, was arrested on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. (Multnomah County Sheriff's Office)

Gorman told police he’d taken his BB gun out to show his girlfriend because they were preparing to go shooting on Sunday with shotguns. When police asked him if he’d leaned over the edge of his balcony with his BB gun, Gorman said he had, with the intention of shooting some rats or birds, according to the affidavit.

It’s unclear if Gorman is working as a lawyer, but he has been licensed with the Oregon State Bar for the past decade. Gorman didn’t respond with comment Tuesday to a request left by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The 21-story Yard apartments were built and opened for occupancy in 2016. The complex has close to 300 units and offers “sky high decadence” and a “breathtaking panorama of city views,” according to its website. Rents start at about $1,300 for a 504-square-foot studio.

Gorman appeared Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court and pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges of second-degree disorderly conduct and discharging a firearm in the city.

A woman walking below Gorman’s unit called police about 1:15 p.m. Saturday to report that she heard several popping sounds. She looked up and was alarmed to see a shirtless man, later identified as Gorman, pointing a rifle over the edge of a 15th floor balcony at 22 N.E. Second Avenue. She took some pictures, which she gave to police.

Portland police deployed a “quick-reaction team” to the lobby. Other officers with “long guns” also were called to the scene to provide cover while police tried to find contact information for Gorman so they could communicate with him, according to the affidavit. Before officers could talk to him, Gorman stepped out of his unit and police immediately arrested him. He was booked into jail and released later that day.

According to the affidavit, police stressed “the seriousness of the situation given the history of mass shooters and his proximity to the (Oregon) Convention Center that was packed with people here for the Comic Con event.” The convention center is less than half a mile from the apartment complex.

Gorman laughed when he saw the photo the woman had taken of him on his balcony, and explained that he thought he looked funny, the affidavit stated.

-- Aimee Green

agreen@oregonian.com

o_aimee

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