A bystander who recorded the aftermath of a road rage shooting in downtown Portland, Oregon on October 11 was also shot by the gun-wielding suspect, according to police.
The bystander, Samuel Gomez, exited a downtown Portland hotel to find Ryan Martin, a 47-year-old father of four, dying on the ground and another man close by in a car with a gun in hand, Fox News reported. When Gomez began recording the suspect, the suspect allegedly shot him in the leg through the driver-side window of his car, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Fox News.
The gunshot lodged in Gomez’s femur, dropping him to the ground while the suspect, businessman Geoffrey Hammond, 46, allegedly shot at him again, the affidavit says. (RELATED: Fender Bender Results In Alleged Road Rage Shooting, Fiery Crash)
Samuel Gomez had been in downtown Portland all of four hours when he took this chilling photo of a financier who had just fatally shot a stranger during a road rage episode.
Seconds later: The driver shot Gomez.@rogoway’s surreal story & interview: https://t.co/sths5G5mnj pic.twitter.com/sn2HHSJjgz
— Shane Dixon Kavanaugh (@shanedkavanaugh) October 14, 2023
After he was shot, Gomez was rushed to OHSU Hospital where he was recovering and reportedly feeling good, according to The Oregonian.
The road rage incident was sparked by a dispute between Martin and Hammond, reportedly stemming from Hammond’s black Mercedes sitting idly and blocking traffic, according to the affidavit.
Martin reportedly got out of his Toyota Tundra and walked up to Hammond’s car, tapping on the window. “It is unclear what, if anything, Ryan Martin said while tapping on the window, but witnesses described shouting,” the affidavit says.
Hammond allegedly rolled down the window and shot Martin in the chest, the affidavit says. Hammond’s gun then jammed as Martin lay on his back pleading, “I’m sorry. I had a bad day.”
Hammond allegedly replied, “You are lucky I didn’t shoot you in the head,” according to the affidavit.
At precisely that moment, Gomez came out of the hotel and began recording before he also was shot, Fox News reported.
After the incident, Hammond called 911 himself and drove to the courthouse, according to Fox News.
Hammond told authorities that he shot both men and that “he believed he was justified in doing so because Ryan Martin menaced him and because Sam Gomez might have had a weapon,” the affidavit says.
Hammond, who pleaded not guilty, was charged with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder with a firearm, first-degree assault with a firearm and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon on Oct. 12, Fox News reported.