ÎClje ^ortlanh (Bbseruer
November 27, 2 0 0 2
Page AS
Remodel
Boosts
Neighborhood
V io len ce
C laim s
M o th e r
continued
from Front
creative planning, the 37-year-old store
was able to remain open during the
extensive renovation, even as virtually
every department was demolished and
rebuilt to new and modem standards.
The new Pedestrian Plaza, leading to
a spacious lobby, welcomes customers
into the store. Windows along the front
wall and along Ainsworth allow natural
light into the store while adding interest
and connectivity for pedestrians along
walkways.
Extensive landscaping and new build
ing materials provide a refreshing new
look for the store. The expansion brings
20 percent more sales area and a lager
selection of products in all departments.
The new interior décor throughout the
store provides afresh, clean and com
fortable shopping experience.
The expansion allowed for the addi
tion of several new departments, in
cluding full service meat and seafood
and a natural foods department. Along
with the standard Safeway offerings,
the full service delicatessen has been
upgraded with a made-to-order sand
wich bar, China cuisine and a conve
nient seating area.
The new full service “from scratch”
bakery has a large windows to the
exterior where production can visible
to passersby. A new pharmacy has
been built with a comfortable waiting
room and customer restroom.
continued
from Front
Investigators say Duckett and
just hung up the phone with her Gonzales had prior gang connec
tions and suspect that their kill
before the shootings.
“She said, ‘Mom, I’m gunna ings are potentially gang related.
But friends, family and neigh
have a smoke,’ and then that was
bors of Bell and James said the
it,” Perlia said.
Neighbors said they heard young couple had no involve
more than a dozen shots ring out ment with gang life. Banqura
said they were quiet neighbors
just before 10 p.m.
Cecilia Banqura, who lives two with children who often played
houses down, said she heard in front of her house. A man in
quite a few shots in succession the neighborhood said the
and assumed they were fire couple always waved and said
works. A resident of the hi when he stopped by to visit
Humboldt neighborhood for his mother in the apartments
seven years, Banqura said the across the street.
“That girl had no reason to
streets have been quieter in re
cent years. When she looked die,” another neighbor said. “The
outside and saw fire and police only thing she ever worried about
vehicles, she assumed there was was getting to her job on time or
a medical emergency across the getting home to her kids.”
James was a custodian at Or
street at the Plaza Apartments, a
low-income housing complex egon Health Science University
with many seniors. It wasn’t and Bell was a medical biller at
until she realized how late in the Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital
year it was for firecrackers that and Medical Center. She for
she realized som ething was merly served as assistant man More than 75 friends, family and neighbors of Asia Bell gathered for a candlelight vigil
wrong. Her suspicions were con ager for the Plaza Apartments.
Saturday night at the house she was shot and killed. They expressed mixed emotions
“I think if Asia was a gang of anger, sadness and pain.
photo by D avid P lechi VT he P ortland O bserver
firmed when she saw police put
member, it would be easier for
ting up yellow tape.
“Those sounds keep coming me to take this,” her mother Perlia lies. Perlia is caring for her four
back to me, ‘Pop, pop, pop,”’ said. “If that was her lifestyle, grandchildren, ages 10, 8, 5 and
Banqura said. “Its so sad, hon maybe I could understand. But 8 months.
“There is a big void when I
estly. We don’t know why this that wasn’t the way she was.
happened and we are all going to She worked and she came home. look into those kids eyes,” she
listen to what the police have to They were married, you don’t said.
As for the void in her own life,
find a lot of young people making
say.”
Perlia said she is
So far police
holding up as well
have released very
as she can. She said
little information.
she tries to smile and
Upon arrival at the
keep her sense of
scene officers re
humor through it all
ported hearing at
because that is what
least one addi
- Perlia Bell, mother of murder victim Asia Bell.
her daughter would
tional shot and as
___
M
have
wanted.
sumed it was in- __________
“She was my first
tended for them.
child, my only daughter and my
They found Bell dead and her that choice anymore.”
Friends and family gathered in best friend,” Perlia said. “I was
husband on the ground in pain.
Serving all who live, work, worship or attend school in the
Bullets had shot through the front of the couple’s home on blessed.”
Portland communities o f Arbor Lodge, Boise, Bridgeton, Buckman north o f S.E.
A funeral will be held at Allen
porch’s wooden railings into the Saturday evening for a candle-
______
Hawthorne, Cathedral Park, China Town, Concordia west o f N .E. 33"1 Avenue,
walls of the house. Armed with li^ht vigil. They decorated the Temple Church, on the comer of
IA / I I | A kA k I I p Concordia University, Downtown Portland, East Columbia, Goose Hollow,
and 1 7"1 Ave.,
assault rifles, police blocked traf- front porch where Bell died with northeast
— *L~—* Skidmore
c, : J
* "**
" " I L L f A l IL . I I I— Humboldt, Irvington west o f N.E. 17th Avenue, Kems, King west o f N.E. 24th
F e d e ra l C r e d it U n io n Avenue, Laurelhurst west o f N.E. 32nd Avenue, Northwest Portland, Northwest
fic and searched streets and yards photos of remembrance, candles on Friday, Nov. 29 at II a.m. A
2151 N.W. Front Avenue Industrial Portland, Old Town, Overlook, Pearl District, Piedmont, Portland
for several city blocks. Portland and mementos. Bell’s pastor. Dr. public visitation will be held at
P o r t l a n d D r p n n n Q 7 ? f) Q
Community College-Cascade Campus, Portland State University, Portsmouth, Sabin
Cox
and
Cox
funeral
chapel
on
LeRoy
Haynes
Jr.
spoke
to
a
,
'
u
west o f N.E. 24th Avenue, St. Johns, Sullivan’s Gulch west o f N.E. 20th Avenue,
Community College, which is less
(503) 299-4539
(888) 900-8559 Sunnyside west o f N.E. 20th Avenue, University o f Portland, University Park,
than a block away from the crowd of around 75 people and Thanksgiving from 1 p.m. to 4
www.willamettefcu.com
Vcnion, and Woodlawn.
scene, locked down the Cascade led attendees in a chant of “Stop p.m.
campus to help police and pro the Killing.”
He said the shooting caused
tect students and staff.
Police think a shooter, or pos the tragic and senseless death of
Providence
sibly two, approached the house a young life and was indicative of
from the south side of the house the violence in our society.
“This is a problem we have to
along Jessup. They found
Milhouse down the street and face,” Haynes said. “We have a
detained several others, but would moral obligation to do what is
not confirm anyone as a suspect. necessary. Asia is saying, ‘Let
Milhouse is on probation and no other person in this commu
has an extensive record of drug nity die and let no other children
charges and for being a felon in be motherless.’”
Family members expressed
Oregon Convention Center
possession of a firearm. Police
are investigating whether the mixed emotions of anger, sad
Exhibit Hall A
shots that killed Bell and critically ness and pain. Bell’s cousin
injured her husband may have Charlene Menefee said the reality
been intended for other acquain hasn't sunk in yet. She keeps
thinking that any minute Bell might
tances of the couple.
They say there is no apparent walk through the front door.
“I haven’t accepted it yet,”
connection between this shoot
ing and the two earlier homicide Menefee said. “She was the best
Adults $5 * Seniors $4
victims - Deaustin V. Duckett, mother to her kids and it’s too
Children 12 and ( under, free
20, who was found dead in a car bad the kids had to witness that.”
At least one of Bell’s four
in Northeast Graham Street on
Holiday Gift Shop
Nov. 15 and Dom ingo Lee children were at home at the time
Live Entertainment
Gonzales, 25, who was shot dead of the shooting. Crime victims
Visit with Santa * Kids’ Crafts
early Sunday, Nov. 17 outside an support groups and crisis re
Over 100 Trees and
after-hours party house on North sponse teams have been working
Holiday Displays
around the clock to help the fami-
east 22nd Avenue.
It’s often easier
to pick out the
vehicle . . .
She was my first child, my only
daughter and my best friend. I was
blessed.
than the financing!
For an answer you can trust,
■ . ^irrfiim^ let your credit union help!
rr the Dream
Ferivi
<y tRee
December 6-8
Friday and Saturday,
10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Providence
Festival of Trees
Proceeds from the 2002 Festival unit benefit three areas o f need:
Providence Specialized Children’s Services, Cancer Research
and Patient Care Programs.
Mad Science Performances:
Saturday 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
and Sunday 2 p.m.
Sponsore
n^bank
Jan«, Day Froip-aa W l«it««r
I CH JsjçE
5 O 3 .5 3 5 .3 8 O O
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w w w .o u ts ld a ln .o r i;
! Clip coupon and mail to: Outside In * 1132 SW 13th Ave * Portland, 0» 97205
: till I want io hilp fiww him ilni ytifli a Itiari
intltiid u my m Mactihlt thttk payahli In Ontiidt I
; □
JSM
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j Pit aw tea4 mt iNtarmatiNN about J
□
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JI.M 0
rtcarritg muthly ctNtribitiNRt □
□
Olhi, $____________
4«Natioat by credit card
Pboat
Email
t i t » ____________ _________
Suti
lip
It
Providence Health System
A c a rin g d iffe r e n c e y o u can fe e l
Illustration created and donated by Kathy Witteman
Park free at Lloyd Center, NE 13th and Multnomah • Free MAX from
Lloyd Center to Convention Center • For information, call 503-215-6070
or visit www.providence.org/festivaloftrees
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