Home owner chases burglars off with pistol

One suspect is caught after suffering asthma attack

By Mara Stine

The Gresham Outlook, Apr 10, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (5 Reader comments)

Sean Ramone Newsome

Contributed photo

An East Multnomah County man faced with at least two burglars in his home turned the tables on them by grabbing his own gun and opening fire while chasing one of them down the street.

But it wasn’t a bullet that stopped the one suspect who didn’t get away – an asthma attack tripped him up.

Sean Ramone Newsome, 30, of Portland is being held on $1.56 million bail at the Justice Center Jail on three charges each of first- and second-degree robbery, one count of first-degree burglary, one count of unauthorized use of a weapon and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to jail records. However, Newsome also is being held on two no-bail warrants for violating his parole for prior weapons charges, said Sgt. Brian Schmautz, Portland police spokesman.

Newsome and one to four other suspects allegedly forced their way into the home of a 21-year-old man at Southeast 160th Avenue and Powell Boulevard north of Powell Butte at about 12:30 p.m. Once inside, the suspects – at least one of whom was armed with a handgun – confronted the victim. A verbal and possibly a physical struggle ensured between Newsome and the victim, during which the victim managed to get his own gun, a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol.

With that, the suspects fled the scene with the victim chasing after them.

All but one of the suspects got away. The one who didn’t found himself being chased for about a block by the victim, who fired at least one round, but missed Newsome.

A short time later police found Newsome suffering from an asthma attack in a backyard about a block from the victim in the 16000 block of Southeast Powell Boulevard.

Portland’s Gang Enforcement Team responded to the scene because the suspect is a gang member from Los Angeles. Detectives have not found Newsome’s gun and believe the other suspect or suspects may have it.

Schmautz said the department is not releasing the victim’s name. Detectives are still investigating and are trying to identify the other suspect or suspects. Anyone with information about the burglary or suspects is encouraged to call Portland Detective Pete Simpson at 503-823-2087.

According to Oregon law, people can use deadly force to defend themselves or others, Schmautz said. A grand jury will decide whether the victim should face charges.

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