Shooting at Ore. funeral service wounds 1

[December 13, 2008]  PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Gunfire erupted during a funeral service at a church on the north side of Portland on Friday, gravely wounding a 31-year-old man with a history of gang activity and sending mourners fleeing.

Sgt. Brian Schmautz of the Portland police said the wounded man, Darshawn Lavone Cross, had a criminal history of gang-related activity.

Although the neighborhood has been gentrifying in recent years, it has in the past been the scene of gang activity.

Schmautz said the shooter was still on the loose.

The shooting happened shortly after noon at the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, where a funeral was being held for an elderly woman, Schmautz said. He said he did not know of any connections or relationship among her, the victim and the shooter.

Charles Jointer, the son of pastor the Rev. Robert C. Jointer, said he was in his father's study in the church when shots were fired.

"All I really saw was a lot of people panicking, running, and that gave me the instinct that there was a gun somewhere," he said. "Everything was so fast."

Charles Jointer, 26, said he swept his 2-year-old son into his arms, ran back to his father's office and locked the doors.

Police responded to an emergency call within about five minutes, he said.

He said about 50 people were at the funeral service, and no one else was injured.

[Associated Press; By MARY HUDETZ]

Associated Press reporter Ryan Kost contributed to this report.

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