Updated 3:10 p.m. Jan. 4

Just before 7 p.m. Wednesday, as the U-Haul office at Southeast 49th and Powell Boulevard was scheduled to close for the night, Portland police received a report that a person had been shot at the site.

Police spokesman Sgt. Chris Burley said police believe the man had attempted to rob the store at gunpoint, but died after a male employee shot him. Police retrieved two firearms from the site – one was the alleged robber's and one was the employee's, they believe.

The injured man was transported to a nearby hospital, but was dead when he arrived. The employee is not in custody, and he and two other witnesses are cooperating with police, Burley said.

Police identified the alleged robber Thursday as Robert R. Porter, 53, of Newberg. The Oregon Medical Examiner's Office determined his gunshot wounds as the cause of death, according to the release.

Tyson B. Pfau, 27, was identified as the employee who shot Porter, police said.

It is not clear whether the witnesses are customers, passersby or employees. Nor is it clear whether the employee had a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Police do not believe the dead man fired his weapon, Burley said.

The incident was an unusual one on a busy stretch of Powell.

"The majority of our robberies do not involve gunfire," Burley said. "We do have robberies that involve firearms. We do encourage people to be good witnesses. But we also realize that if you feel like your life is in danger or somebody else's life is in danger, a person may need to protect themselves."

He said those who carry concealed firearms should attend gun safety courses and concealed weapons permit courses, and study the appropriate state's gun laws.

Detectives are reviewing 9-1-1 tapes and video surveillance tapes.

-- Anna Marum