Saturday morning in Gresham, Oregon, William Coleman III, 21, was approached by a lean, 6′ tall, black male who was interested in a cigarette while William was having a conversation with his cousin. Coleman, an advocate of open carry of firearms, had his personal firearm, a German Walther P22 handgun on display.
Coleman had only purchased the Walther P22 a few hours prior to the incident. The suspect remarked that he was also a bit of a fan of the .22 caliber Walther. The black male brandished his own firearm, stored within a holster across his waist, aimed it directly at Coleman and remarked “I like your gun. Give it to me.”
Coleman complied with the threat and the man ran off in gray sweats, flip flops, and a white tee. The suspect is reportedly between 19 and 23 years of age, with wavy hair and mild facial hair.
The suspect’s firearm is a black-colored, semi-automatic pistol. Gresham’s Police Department reminds the public of its tip line at 503-618-2719 and would appreciate any and all assistance from anyone with information that could lead to apprehending the suspect.
Oregon is one of many states with a weapons policy that allows individuals to openly carry a firearm.