Police identify man killed in Northwest Portland

Homicide detectives canvassed a neighborhood for evidence near where a man was killed early Friday morning.

Officers responded to a report of a disturbance near Northwest 4th Avenue and Couch at around 1:20 a.m.

While on the way to the scene, officers learned someone had been shot.

When officers arrived, they found a man who had been shot at least once. Officers called for medical aid and started life-saving efforts, but the man died before medics arrived.

The victim was later identified as 29-year-old Trayontay D. Jones. A medical examiner determined he died from a gunshot wound.

Witness Joseph Jacobs told KATU he tried to help the victim in his final moments by encouraging him to breathe.

"You are a fighter, hang in there," Jacobs said. He recalled telling the man, "You're going to get through this!"

The interaction was captured on camera.

"He wasn't speaking," Jacobs said, "but you could see that my words would make him breathe."

Jacobs says he was disappointed the wounded man's friends didn't stay and try to help. He found himself alone with another man, who was on the phone with dispatchers.

"Right or wrong, this person was on a battlefield, fighting for his friends. And when he got shot, they all left him there, and left him there for dead. Now that is not right," he said. "I feel that he could still be alive, if they would’ve got him to the hospital or if he had more help from his friends."

Before the shooting, witnesses reported seeing a fight.

Jacobs described the brawl as a melee, with 15 to 20 people involved.

Police do not believe there is a danger to the public.

The Gun Violence Reduction Team, Homicide Detectives, and the Forensic Evidence Division are investigating.

Anyone with information about the crime should call the non-emergency line at (503) 823-3333.