Bend Police SWAT members converged on the 1400 block of NW Newport Ave. on April 23, 2016, after Walker Henneke fired his AK-47 at a group of men outside, wounding two of them. (Jarod Opperman/Bulletin file photo)

A dispute early Saturday in northwest Bend escalated to a shooting with an AK-47 assault rifle: Two people were wounded, police later had to use chemical irritant gas to coax suspects out of a residence, and a 13-hour road closure ensued.

Walker Henneke, 23, and Philip True, 27, both of Bend, were arrested Saturday morning following the incident, according to a news release from Bend Police, which described the situation as an attempted murder and assault.

The two wounded men, Blake Blevins, 32, of Bend, and Erik Menezes, 31, of California, were taken to St. Charles Bend.

Police activity Saturday centered on the 1400 block of NW Newport Avenue.

Blevins, Menezes and three others were walking on NW 15th Street near NW Newport at about 2:41 a.m., according to the release. Henneke, True and Maxwell Haldeman, 25, were at their residence at 1473 NW Newport when an argument started between the two groups, police said. This escalated into a physical dispute in the middle of the street, near the front of the residence.

Police believe the two groups didn’t know each other before the run-in Saturday.

Henneke went into the home to get the AK-47, police said, and returned outside, allegedly firing a number of rounds in the direction of Blevins, Menezes and others involved.

Bend PD, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police responded to the scene and learned through witnesses that the suspects lived in the residence.

Bend Fire treated Blevins and Menezes and transported them to St. Charles Bend, according to the release. Each man had single gunshot wounds in their lower extremities or torso, the release said.

Menezes was in critical condition at that time, according to Lt. Clint Burleigh, a spokesman for Bend Police. An update on Menezes’ condition was not available Saturday evening.

Gas got them out

The Central Oregon Emergency Response Team later used “negotiations and chemical irritant gas” to get the suspects to come out of the residence, according to police.

True came out of the house before the team used the chemical munitions, but Haldeman, Henneke and others inside didn’t come out until after. Burleigh said the irritant gas used is “almost like really intense pepper spray” which makes those exposed feel uncomfortable.

Through the morning, officers with the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team called out to the house through a bullhorn, telling anybody who might be inside that police had a search warrant and to come out with hands up. They were trying to make sure the house was empty.

Close to 12:30 p.m., a tactical team went around the back of the house, visible from NW Milwaukee Avenue. An officer broke off a piece of plaster siding and a police K-9 barked to warn anybody inside. The police then broke open a shed in the yard.

Detectives found Henneke had tried hiding the assault rifle allegedly used in the shooting, according to police. They found the AK-47 in the backyard.

During the investigation, stretches of NW Newport and NW Milwaukee avenues were closed until late afternoon Saturday.

What neighbors saw

Derik Emroe, 24, had driven through the area early Saturday and saw a fight between eight to 10 people on opposite sides of Newport Avenue, he said.

He then heard what sounded like fireworks.

“Turns out it was gunshots,” Emroe said late Saturday morning, standing on Milwaukee Avenue behind the house, where two police cars were stationed to prevent people from passing through NW 15th Street. Emroe called dispatch to report what he saw, he said.

Brian Hall, 44, lives on Milwaukee Avenue kitty-corner to the home on Newport Avenue where Saturday’s investigation took place.

He said he woke up with a start early Saturday after hearing a loud noise; he thought maybe there had been a car accident.

“There was a lot of shouting and loud noises outside on the street, on Newport, but I couldn’t see anything,” Hall said.

He did see a man sitting in the yard of the house and noticed when the police arrived at about 3 a.m. He said officers later coaxed two men out of the house and that police had appeared to deploy gas canisters.

Henneke was arrested on suspicion of five counts of attempted murder, eight counts of unlawful use of a weapon, five counts of recklessly endangering, one count of tampering with evidence, two counts of first-degree assault and three counts of attempted first-degree assault.

True was arrested on suspicion of a probation violation, felon in possession of a firearm and disorderly conduct.

Both men were lodged at Deschutes County Jail.

Haldeman was cited and must appear in Deschutes County Circuit Court for disorderly conduct.

Saturday, Hall said he thought the house was rented out to several people but that he did not know them.

“If I had to guess which house in a five-block radius would be involved in an altercation, it would be that one,” Hall said.

— Reporter: 541-383-0325,

kfisicaro@bendbulletin.com

— Reporter: 541-383-0376,

cwithycombe@bendbulletin.com