Crime and Policing

Police in Lovejoy, Georgia arrested 16‑year‑old Lequan Stephens on aggravated assault charges after his father turned him in following a two‑day manhunt tied to a pair of shootings. Lovejoy police say officers responded on Jan. 17 to gunfire on Lovejoy Crossing Lane and found a juvenile in the front passenger seat of a vehicle with gunshot wounds to the face and neck, after a suspect allegedly fired into the car and fled. Investigators identified Stephens as the suspected shooter and obtained warrants, while the Georgia Bureau of Investigation secured additional warrants in connection with a separate shooting. The Clayton County Sheriff’s Office coordinated operations at multiple homes linked to Stephens’ relatives and acquaintances, publicly warning he had “no place to hide,” before his father brought him in after more than 48 hours on the run. The case highlights ongoing concerns over youth gun violence and the role of family members in resolving dangerous manhunts, though authorities have not yet disclosed a motive or the condition of the wounded juvenile.

Portland, Oregon police have released photos and a detailed description of a suspect who allegedly opened fire on officers Monday night, wounding two before fleeing on foot in the city’s Northeast neighborhood. The shooting occurred around 8:20 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2026, after officers responded to a "threat with a weapon" call and confronted the man on Northeast Clackamas Street between NE 16th and NE 17th Avenues; both officers were hospitalized and are in stable condition. The suspect is described as a white male in his mid‑30s with facial hair, wearing a black baseball cap, black jacket over a gray hoodie, black pants and shoes, and carrying a black backpack and green shopping bag; police say he is believed to be armed with both a handgun and a knife and should not be approached. The Portland Police Bureau has deployed its Special Emergency Reaction Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, air support, drones, K‑9 units and patrol officers to search the area and maintain a perimeter, while Mayor Keith Wilson called the attack a stark reminder of the dangers officers face and asked for public help in identifying the gunman. Residents are being urged to call 911 with any information and to treat the suspect as armed and extremely dangerous as the manhunt continues.