Page 2
March 16, 2016
The
in
Week Review
School Shooting Planned
An Oregon student has been arrested for attempt-
ing to carry out a mass shooting at Newberg High
School, police announced Tuesday. The suspect
took substantial steps to obtain a firearm, as well as
a list of supplies to help carry out the plan, police
said.
Police Shoot Armed Woman
A woman armed with a hammer and knife was shot
by deputies Sunday in the Five Corners area of
Clark County and later died of her injuries, authori-
ties said. Neither of the two deputies involved in the
shooting were injured, police said.
Party Turns to Gunfire
Portland Police say four people were injured when
someone fired more than 20 shots at a birthday party
Saturday night at the Rosewood Community Center
at Southeast 162nd and Stark. The gunfire broke out
during a fight between rival gang members, and four
people were hospitalized with non-life threatening
injuries, police said.
Message Therapist Arrested
Benjamin Thomas Collura, 32,
was arrested last week accused
of sexually abusing a massage
client at the River’s Edge Hotel
and Spa in southwest Portland.
Police said there may be oth-
er victims. Collura previously
worked at two Massage Envy locations, including
one in the Lloyd District in northeast Portland, po-
lice said.
Flight Diverted to Portland
An Alaska Airlines flight headed to Seattle was di-
verted to Portland on Monday night because of an
unruly passenger. The Boeing 737 with 162 passen-
gers landed at Portland International Airport around
9:30 p.m. from Sacramento. Port of Portland police
took the man into custody as soon as the plane ar-
rived at the gate.
Sainthood for Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa will be
made a saint on Sept.
4. Pope Francis set
the canonization date
Tuesday, paving the
way for the nun who
cared for the poorest of
the poor to become the
centerpiece of his yearlong focus on the Catholic
Church’s merciful side.
Cuba Restrictions Loosened
The Obama administration on Tuesday announced
that it would be loosening restrictions on Ameri-
cans’ ability to travel to Cuba, business transactions
between the two countries and on Americans’ abil-
ity to purchase Cuban merchandise, including Cu-
ban-made cigars
A homicide investigation outside the former JB’s Paradise Room
on North Vancouver Avenue as depicted in a 1982 police photo.
Robert Altom
1982 Cold Case Solved
Witness says suspect hurled gay slur at victim
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The Portland Police Bureau’s
Cold Case Homicide Unit has
cleared a 1982 homicide case af-
ter learning that the suspect in the
case is deceased.
In the early morning hours of
Nov. 8, 1982, the owner of JB’s
Paradise Room, a former night-
club located at 3530 N. Vancouver
Ave., closed the bar and when he
walked outside, he found a male
lying on the ground, suffering
from head trauma. The victim,
Robert Lee Altom, 30, died as a
result of his injuries.
Police said at the time, witness-
es told police that Altom had a ver-
bal altercation inside the bar with
an African American male regard-
ing Altom’s sexuality and that the
suspect used a gay slur to describe
Altom during the argument.
Late last year, Cold Case Ho-
micide Unit detectives re-inter-
viewed a witness in the case. The
witness provided information that
assisted in identifying the suspect
as Cecil Corrie Turner, who was
24-years-old at the time of the ho-
micide. The information learned
from the witness was corroborat-
ed by detectives, who learned that
Turner died in 2009 in Oregon.
Based on the new informa-
tion, detectives were able to clear
the case after consulting with the
Multnomah County District Attor-
ney’s Office.
“My family and I are thankful
that the case has been solved,”
said Dawn Frizzell-Luna. “We
are thankful to the detectives that
worked to solve the case and are
grateful for what they have done
for our family. My Uncle Robbie
was an amazing man, who was
loved, and is missed by his fami-
ly and friends. It is a good feeling
to know my Uncle Robbie’s name
is no longer among boxes with the
words cold case on them, but in-
stead among ones that say solved.”
The Cold Case Homicide Unit
reviews unsolved murders in the
Portland area and, since its in-
ception in 2004, has reviewed ap-
proximately 250 homicide cases
and solved more than 40.
The Portland Police Bureau
Cold Case Homicide Unit is
comprised of a Sergeant and four
Detectives who are assisted by
several retired investigators who
volunteer their time to assist in
solving cases.
The Portland Police Bureau
Cold Case Homicide Unit has a
close partnership with the Mult-
nomah County District Attorney’s
Office and the Oregon State Police
Crime Lab.
Information about many of
these unsolved homicides can be
viewed by visiting portlandore-
gon.gov/police/35696.