On Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 11:03 a.m., Portland Police Officers assigned to North Precinct responded to a report of someone seen with a gun in the 6700 block of North Commercial Avenue. As they were responding they were notified by dispatchers that callers were reporting the suspect was firing shots. Officers moved in and challenged the suspect, who complied with orders to drop the shotgun and was quickly taken into custody within 7 minutes of the first police unit being dispatched.
A shotgun was recovered and seized as evidence.
The Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) responded to investigate the incident and determined that the suspect fired at least two shots with a shotgun at a passing driver. No one was injured. Based on statements from the suspect, there was evidence that the crime was influenced by the suspect’s perception of the victim’s race.
Marc W. Schaffer, 52, of Portland, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Bias Crime in the First Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree.
If anyone has information about this case and has not already talked to police, please e-mail [email protected] attn: ECST and reference case number 26-316621.
The Portland Police Bureau investigates all reports of bias-motivated crimes and encourages any member of our community who is the victim of such a crime to contact law enforcement. Under Oregon law, bias crimes are defined as any criminal act that targets a victim based on the suspect’s perception of the victim’s race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or national origin. Detectives work to determine whether or not bias elements are present during the reported crime that align with Oregon law as defined in the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS):
* ORS 166.165 – Bias Crime in the First Degree
* ORS 166.155 – Bias Crime in the Second Degree
If you have been the victim of a bias crime assault or you are witnessing one, immediately call 9-1-1. If you have been the victim of a different bias crime and the suspect is no longer present, such as vandalism or graffiti, please call the non-emergency line at 503-823-3333.
PPB offers a dashboard on our website to offer the community more information about bias crime investigations and reported bias/hate crime statistics within the City of Portland.
Last year, Portland Police released a podcast detailing the important and often misunderstood topic of bias crimes and bias incidents.
The Bureau’s Focused Intervention Team (FIT) and Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) work in partnership with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) on a focused deterrence strategy to reduce gun violence called Portland Ceasefire. This citywide strategy centers on collaboration among Portland’s Community Safety Division and Office of Violence Prevention, City leaders, the Portland Police Bureau, and community-based organizations.
The Focused Intervention Team (FIT) is composed of a Lieutenant, two Sergeants, and 12 Officers who were selected to be a part of this specialty unit tasked with helping address gun violence in the City. In between emergency calls, FIT builds relationships with community members and proactively deters violence consistent with their mandate. FIT is overseen by a group of community volunteers known as the Focused Intervention Team Community Oversight Group, or FITCOG. The FITCOG commenced in June 2021 in response to the gun violence crisis in Portland to work with the Focused Intervention Team (FIT) and assist with recommendations to reduce gun violence through prevention, intervention, and response. For more information, see the FITCOG website. FIT also collaborates with ECST, a team of Sergeants, Detectives, and Officers which focuses on investigating shootings.
FIT and ECST considers all gunfire aimed at Portland community members to be attempted murder cases. Eyewitnesses or video evidence is crucial in solving these cases and these crime victims need people to come forward with any information. If anyone has information about any shooting case, please contact [email protected].
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Source: www.portland.gov
