Man fatally stabbed on Portland waterfront path near Steel Bridge

Police searched for a suspect Friday afternoon after someone stabbed a man to death along Portland’s popular waterfront path near the Steel Bridge at lunchtime.

Investigators blocked the lower path across the bridge and turned away dozens of cyclists and pedestrians who were taking in the sunshine and blooming cherry blossoms in Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

Steel Bridge Stabbing March 15 — Police converged on Portland's waterfront path near the Steel Bridge on Friday, March 15, 2024, after a man was stabbed to death on the path in the early afternoon.Austin De Dios/The Oregonian

Police responded to reports of the stabbing at 1:15 p.m. and found a man with severe injuries, they said. Officers used tourniquets to help stanch the bleeding until medics arrived. The man died later at the hospital, police said.

It’s unclear if the man was stabbed on the path across the bridge or if he walked onto the bridge after being attacked, police said. Investigators had placed yellow markers along the middle of the lower bridge path.

Investigators didn’t release any other information about what happened.

The man’s death marks the 18th homicide in Portland so far this year. At this time in 2023, 14 people had died in homicides.

Hours after the stabbing, Tom McCall Waterfront Park remained closed at the west end of the bridge as was the lower bridge path. Traffic on the upper deck was unaffected, police said.

Police asked anyone with information about the stabbing to contact Detective William Winters at william.winters@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0466 or Detective Jason Koenig at jason.koenig@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0889 and reference case number 24-63876.

— Austin De Dios covers public safety and diversity, equity and inclusion. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios.

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