UPDATED 1:56 p.m.

Portland police officers found a 45-year-old man dead Friday in a Southeast Portland home after a neighbor called 911 about 11 a.m. after hearing gunshots.

There was evidence of a shooting inside the home, but it's unclear how the man died, Portland Police Sgt. Pete Simpson said Friday. Detectives are treating the death as a homicide.

Witnesses reported seeing a man and woman run from the home. Police said they're looking for the two, whom they described as "persons of interest."

The dead man is believed to have been a resident of the home in the 1700 block of Southeast 162nd Avenue.



Police officers from East Precinct are familiar with the residence, as they've been called there before, Simpson said. However, he did not know why. The bureau spokesman said the home may have been the site of a marijuana grow in the past.

Officers also found a suspicious vehicle 10 to 12 blocks away that they're examining to determine whether it has any connection with the death. The vehicle was parked oddly in front of a driveway and attracted notice, Simpson said.

Southeast 162nd Avenue is closed between Southeast Clay and Mill streets.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the man's cause and manner of death, Simpson said.

He said it's unclear if the death resulted from a personal dispute or not. Without knowing more details about what occurred, "We're concerned about someone with a gun who left the scene,'' Simpson said.

Police ask that anyone with information about the shooting call 503-823-3333 or speak to an officer at the scene.

Police parked a mobile command center on the avenue, drawing attention from neighbors.

A nearby resident Carol Elliott said she just came from a Zumba fitness class at a local community center and wondered what was going on.

She said the area is usually very quiet. "I guess things aren't as safe as you would like to believe,'' she said.

Michelle Stader stopped by to check that her friend and cousin who lives in the area was OK. Stader said she moved out of Southeast Portland six months ago because of the violence in the area. "Everyday you hear on the news '162nd.' It's not a good place,'' she said.

-- Samantha Matsumoto

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian