One Dead, Another Facing Murder Charges in Gresham Shooting

At least one fatal gunshot was fired after an altercation inside a Gresham residence‏, police say.

(GRESHAM, Ore.) - Gresham Police have arrested 79-year old Viktor Gregorevich Gebauer of Gresham, for the Murder of 47-year old Viktor Merezhnikov of Gresham.

Sgt. Rich Wilson with Gresham Police, says officers were called to check the welfare of a person at 142 NE 192nd last night at 9:11 p.m.

Upon arrival, police learned that while inside the residence, Mr. Merezhnikov had called a family member saying he was being held there at gunpoint.

Wilson said, "When this family member went to check the welfare of this person he was greeted at the front door by the resident. He looked inside and saw his family member apparently deceased in a chair."

Gresham Police made contact with Viktor Gebauer, and were able to convince him to come out.

"We then entered the residence finding a deceased male inside," Wilson said, who turned out to be Mr. Merezhnikov.

47-year old Viktor Merezhnikov was deceased with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

The investigation continues at this hour, but Gebauer has been charged with Murder and has been lodged at the Multnomah County Jail.

Wilson says there is a language barrier that has affected the investigation, but he confirmed that 79-year old Gebauer faces a charge of Murder without bail.

(Editor's note: We earlier had misidentified the suspect, crossing his name in the caption with that of the victim. This is a mistake we regret, our apologies for this corrected oversight.)

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Eugene Zaikin March 11, 2010 9:38 pm (Pacific time)

I went to get my teeth done and he started going on and on how everyone is going to hell pretty much all christians out there any of them, and he kept on saying he does his "GOOD deeds to people helping with teeth and yet accuses of me and everyone else thats going to hell I started talking about the holy spirit after i asked him he is like get out of my house.. but he never threatened to shoot me not once. So we can't judge someone unless he said i will kill you maybe that man that was shot said give me your money or something like that. We all know that he has money ok so lets stop the false accusations let out heavenly father deal with him. May god bless you all

shakin' March 11, 2010 7:40 pm (Pacific time)

so i went there with my brother once and he did a very nice job on his root canal. but heck we dont know the man, and how are we so sure the comments are legit.

dima February 28, 2010 9:28 am (Pacific time)

damn...he did my teeth, did a good job too...oh well...

Peter D February 28, 2010 8:45 am (Pacific time)

It is being alleged by some in Russian community that Merezhnikov was a "black beret" in Russian army (or such country's army) and that Merezhnikov "broke many jaws" of Russian business owners in Portland, Oregon because he was extorting money from them. That's why the lady went to illegal dentist: to find out if it is a good extortion plan. Then, Merezhnikov went in: to extort the money. Lady did not want teeth done? She never wanted her teeth done: she was a scout for Merezhnikov to come in. So, we need to find the business owners whose jaws were broken. I heard that they do not want to testify because Merezhnikov got something on them: either illegal business, or tax evasion, or criminal records, etc. That's how racket works. So, who will find the business owners?

??? February 25, 2010 3:58 pm (Pacific time)

Does he have a wife?

?????? February 25, 2010 3:55 pm (Pacific time)

What is the true reason on why he shot the person?It depends on why,and if he did it for self-defense,he is not crazy,i am sure there is a good reason,he doesnt look like a murderer to me....

Jul February 25, 2010 12:50 pm (Pacific time)

This man does not have an excuse for killing a man. He didn't give that guy his life to be able to take it away. That would be God's job, and Viktor deserves punishment for that. Good guy or not. We all have our bad sides, but that doesn't mean that we can go shooting people left and right. I just hope that God has mercy for this cruel man, and touches his heart with the Holy Spirit, and hopefully Viktor repents and will be able to understand that what he did is not right whatsoever. Reading the comments, I would say that this man had some mental issues. He should not have done anything for anyone, especially illegaly, and at any time of night or day. God Bless you all :)

Natalie February 25, 2010 12:15 am (Pacific time)

Who needs FBI agents with their taking months investigations any more? Just read the S-N comments and be clear on the issue in a couple minutes. Sneeze in Salem and you'll hear 'bless you' from New-York.

???? February 24, 2010 10:02 pm (Pacific time)

Illegal or not, he is an amazing dentist, and his contribution to the welfare of the uninsured russian community has been astounding. i remember a few years back, my mother had the worst toothache ever on New Years Eve... We called him up and he helped her (due to his natural creepiness she asked me to come with her, which i did). Bottom line is, whether day or night, you could call this guy and he would help u at a small fraction of the cost a licensed dentist would charge. His quality was so good that when I saw a couple of guys who operate officially, they actually made comments as to the great quality of his work. I have recently heard that the deceased had been some sort of martial arts instructor and probably did come to force Victor to give him his money back. To all u guys out there who operate ANYTHING under the table, beware. In case of monetary or quality disputes, there are no guidelines and often the methods of solving such disputes are just as illegal as the operation itself. Let that be a lesson to all.

Mike February 24, 2010 7:33 pm (Pacific time)

What I heard is, One lady came to Victor to fix \her teeth some problem. And when she came home she didn't like they way Victor did her teeth. Then she told her husband and her\ husband went to Victors House For money>? to beat him? we will found out that later. So Vic took gun and shot him.

lil February 23, 2010 9:31 pm (Pacific time)

ILLIGAL DENTISTRY!!!! BAD QUALITY DENTISTRY!!!! SPOKE ILL OF CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS!!!!!!!! THIEF AND LIER! WHY DOES IT TAKE A HUMAN LIFE TO MAYBE STOP THIS GUY!!!

tanya February 23, 2010 5:31 pm (Pacific time)

OSY --- Why was the other man in his home at 9pm? if you knew viktor, then u should u know that he had people @ his house no matter what time it was. he is a very strange man, and i highly doubt that he shot him in defense. the other guy was in a chair, UNARMED as far as we know.

Olga February 23, 2010 3:31 pm (Pacific time)

Victor is my dentist..... He is a wonderful person and friend. What he did was for self-defense. I strongly believe he was defending his own life! If someone came into your home and threatened you and physically beat you, what would you do for self-defense? Keeping in mind this occurrence of beating happened more than once in Victor's own home!!!!

Peter Depeche February 23, 2010 1:53 pm (Pacific time)

I am his son. His true name is Viktor LEPESH. He is the craziest person and should be locked up forever. One of his sons are permanently in Mental Hospital, another is in prison, and another is barely functioning. All due to Victor's upbringing of his children: it was a pure Nazi concentration camp. I want a detective to contact me so that I can give him my 20 page description of my childhood in Viktor's "David Koresh's" Nazi camp. I wrote that paper many years ago as a requirement for University class. YouAreCrazyDude@yahoo.com

oleg February 22, 2010 4:52 pm (Pacific time)

i know victor G. he is the craziest man i have ever met. he threatens people without a reason. he is a crazy bastard.

VG February 22, 2010 1:29 pm (Pacific time)

The fact is that he shot a man. As I heard that this was not his first murder. He got away in the past, and I’ll not be surprised if he will try to do this again. I think, It would be better for him to die in the prison. He shot a man, and didn’t call police, he was watching him dyeing (what an animal). When his house was surrounded by SWAT, hi didn’t surrender for at least 40 minutes, as he was probably busy setting up the scene, and waiting for Victor to die. Robbing him? Give me a break… Victim wasn’t a criminal, who would rob people, like Gebuaers/Lepesh son for instance, who is in prison now for identity theft and money laundering.

Pavel February 22, 2010 12:10 pm (Pacific time)

Victor G. is crazy he was telling other people that he can shoot them I they will say something that he doesent agree

Natalia February 22, 2010 11:15 am (Pacific time)

He was an alcoholic

Joe Biden jr February 22, 2010 3:17 am (Pacific time)

This man provide ilegal dental at his own house , Maybe that man refuse to pay the bill . I know him , and was a good doctor dentist

WTFEVER February 21, 2010 8:31 pm (Pacific time)

He was an alcoholic and psychopath...

NYI February 20, 2010 10:05 pm (Pacific time)

He was defending himself. I know him for years and he would never hurt anyone.

OSY February 19, 2010 11:59 pm (Pacific time)

I have known Viktor G. for years...he did have issues with people assaulting and robbing him in the past. Maybe he was defending himself. Why was the other man in his home at 9pm? Its difficult to know what happened...the whole situation is awful.

Natalie February 19, 2010 8:35 pm (Pacific time)

Good to know it wasn't my vision problem today...

gp February 19, 2010 7:58 pm (Pacific time)

EDITOR: Thanks much, the mix up has been corrected!! What would we do without you? :)

Daniel Johnson February 19, 2010 6:12 pm (Pacific time)

I'd be interested in learning about the history and current status of the firearm used.

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