A 16-year-old boy accused of shooting three people during Last Thursday festivities in Northeast Portland apologized to his family members and told them he loved them during his first court appearance Friday afternoon.

Turon Lamont Walker Jr. of Vancouver was arraigned on three counts each of attempted murder with a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon in an emotional hearing in Multnomah County Juvenile Court. Attempted murder is a Measure 11 crime, so Walker is being prosecuted as an adult.

His supporters filled the courtroom, some of them sobbing. Just as the hearing began, one woman was visibly upset and jumped out of the gallery, walked behind the prosecutor and said, "I'm leaving," before heading out of the courtroom.

Walker's defense counsel, Elizabeth Wakefield, noted the strong support for the teenager in the room. She entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Before Walker was taken back into custody, he looked at his family members and said he loved them. His father told him to call so he could get some money on his account.

"I'm sorry," Walker said as he left the room.

After he was gone, one woman sat sobbing on a courtroom bench.

Turon Walker

Before the hearing, Walker's father, Turon Walker Sr., said he was frustrated that police didn't tell him that his son had been arrested until early Friday morning.

The shooting occurred at Northeast Alberta Street and 20th Avenue just before 7 p.m. Thursday. His father said a police detective called him at 12:40 a.m. Friday and said his son was in custody. The detective told him the teenager had been involved in a shooting and that police had taken a statement and confession from him, his father said.

"From a kid?" his father said.

The conversation didn't go any further, other than the detective telling him someone would call him with the time of his son's court appearance, the elder Walker said. Police should have called him sooner, he said.

The father declined to answer further questions after the hearing.

Turon Walker Jr. is set to appear again in court next Friday afternoon.

Police have said Walker fired multiple rounds Thursday night before running south on Northeast 20th Avenue. He was captured by police at Northeast 22nd Avenue and Going Street. A resident had chased Walker before police caught up to him.

Two 15-year-old boys, and a 25-year-old woman were wounded and are recovering from their injuries. Police have identified them as Damon Terrell Knighten, 15; Nayuntre Latrell Hurd, 15; and Ashley Quinae Perry, 25.

According to court records, Walker told police he took aim and fired a handgun at someone in the crowd after he thought the person was "eying him." He later wrote an apology letter to the people struck by bullets, the records say.

The shooting pushed Portland police gang violence response calls this year to 64, up from 50 at this time last year.

Maxine Bernstein of The Oregonian staff contributed to this report.

-- Rebecca Woolington

503-294-4049; @rwoolington