Key Takeaways
- Three men were struck by gunfire at VN Bar N Grill on Northwest Fairview Drive in Gresham just before 11 p.m. on Saturday, October 10. One of them died at the scene.
- Police identified the man who was killed as Hassan Smith, 25. The two wounded men are expected to survive.
- The bar closed after the shooting and said publicly that it does not condone violence of any kind.
One Killed, Two Wounded in Shooting at Gresham, Oregon Bar
Gresham Police responded just before 11 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, to a shooting at a bar in the 1700 block of Northwest Fairview Drive, where officers found one person dead at the scene. Two more victims who were taken to local hospitals, according to a Gresham Police Department news release. The business is VN Bar N Grill at 1716 Northwest Fairview Drive, The Outlook reported.
Police later identified the three men who were struck by gunfire. Hassan Smith, 25, died at the scene, and Quincy Ng, 25, and Demarco Streeter were both taken to a hospital and are expected to survive, according to KPTV.
The East County Major Crimes Team is leading the investigation, and police said there is no ongoing threat to the community, according to the Gresham Police Department release. As of October 15, no arrests had been made, authorities were still searching for the suspected shooter, and police had not said whether the three victims knew one another, KATU reported.
Police have released no suspect description and no motive, according to KATU. Anyone with information is asked to call the Gresham Police Department tip line at 503-618-2719 or toll-free at 1-888-989-3505, according to the Gresham Police Department. The Outlook reported that detectives Tyson Conroy and Ryan Burkeen are handling the case.
The bar closed after the shooting and said it would remain closed until further notice, posting updates on social media, according to KPTV. In statements on Facebook, the business described itself as family-owned, said it was deeply saddened by what it called a senseless act of violence, said it does not condone violence of any kind, and said it would work to keep the bar a welcoming gathering place, according to KPTV and NBC16.
A neighbor, Manuel Barajas, told KPTV that the news surprised him because he feels safe in that area.
What This Shooting Means for Negligent Security Claims
Under Oregon law, businesses that invite customers onto their premises have a duty to exercise reasonable care for their safety. This obligation can include taking reasonable precautions against foreseeable criminal acts committed by third parties.
In Piazza v. Kellim (2016), the Oregon Supreme Court recognized that businesses may be responsible for failing to protect visitors from reasonably foreseeable criminal violence. Whether violence was foreseeable depends on the circumstances, including the nature of the business, prior criminal activity, and what the operator knew or reasonably should have known about potential dangers.
The circumstances surrounding the October 10, 2026, shooting at VN Bar N Grill raise questions about what security measures were in place and whether additional precautions were reasonably necessary.
Available news reports do not identify previous violent incidents at VN Bar N Grill. However, the absence of reported incidents does not establish that a business had no history of security concerns.
Police calls for service, previous incident reports, complaints to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC), and internal business records could provide additional information about whether management had reason to anticipate violence. Some of these records may be publicly available, while others may require formal legal discovery.
Another important question is where the shooting occurred. Police have not publicly specified whether the gunfire occurred inside the establishment or in an exterior area like a parking lot.
If the shooting occurred inside the bar, an investigation could examine whether staff observed threatening behavior beforehand, whether appropriate security personnel were present, and whether reasonable steps were taken to address any developing confrontation.
If the shooting occurred outside, additional questions could concern parking lot security, lighting, surveillance, and which parties were responsible for maintaining and controlling the area.
The shooting remains under investigation, and authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive or clarified where on the property the shooting occurred. At this stage, there is insufficient publicly available information to determine whether VN Bar N Grill or another party was negligent.
Importantly, Oregon law does not require bars to prevent every criminal act or implement every conceivable security measure. However, the shooting raises important questions about whether VN Bar N Grill exercised reasonable care in light of foreseeable risks, what security measures were in place that night, and whether any failure to take reasonable precautions contributed to the injuries and loss of life.
Were You or a Family Member Injured in a Bar Shooting or a Similar Incident?
If you or a member of your family was injured in the shooting at VN Bar N Grill, or in a violent incident at another bar, restaurant, or nightlife venue in Oregon, you may have legal options against the business owner or operator.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent victims of negligent security at bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and other commercial properties, holding owners and operators accountable when inadequate security staffing, entry screening, lighting, or camera coverage contributes to a preventable injury or death.
Our team can help you understand whether a business met its legal duty to protect you and what compensation may be available for medical bills, funeral expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Every consultation is free and confidential.
