Portland man says new sports bar off to a great start until a man started shooting customers

Jamie Francis/The OregonianA photo of Steven Ouk, 28, is on display at the front door of the sports bar, where he died in his wife's arms after being shot early Saturday.

Monday, October 25, 2010,

Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian

View full sizeJamie Francis/The Oregonian
Saron Khut, 39, who came to Portland in 1981 as a Cambodian refugee, and his sister, Syna Khut, outside their Good Call Sports Bar & Grill Monday. Both were shocked when a gunman opened fire inside their business early Saturday. One man was killed and three others were wounded. "All I wanted to do was have a place where people can go and have fun and feel at home," Saron Khut said.

Saron "Ron" Khut, the owner of the Good Call Sports Bar & Grill in Southeast Portland, is a classic immigrant success story.

He came to this country at age 9 from a refugee camp in Thailand, sponsored by his uncle. He went to Cleveland High School, then Mt. Hood Community College and graduated from Portland State University.

He worked five years as a manager for FedEx Ground, then 9 1/2 years at Intel as an operations manager of a chip manufacturing unit, until he was laid off this summer.

So Khut, 39, turned to his dream job, mixing his love of sports with his fondness for Cambodian cuisine. In June, he opened what he says is the only Cambodian fusion sports bar in town. He was off to a great start, until a man pulled a gun on his customers early Saturday.

Khut was working behind the bar, putting glasses away. The karaoke music had stopped just before 1 a.m. Yet a crowd of more than 50 people remained in the restaurant, where large flat-screen TVs hang in every corner amid sports jerseys.

"I heard a bang and looked and saw a guy pulling a gun and shooting," Khut recalled Monday, motioning to the center floor of his establishment. "I was in shock. I couldn't believe what was happening in my place."

Some of his customers ran out the restaurant's main door. Others ducked under tables.

steven oukView full sizeJamie Francis/The OregonianA photo of Steven Ouk, 28, is on display at the front door of the sports bar, where he died in his wife's arms after being shot early Saturday.
Steven Ouk, 28, a regular customer the last four months, had brought his mother-in-law and family to the restaurant to celebrate her birthday.

Ouk was shot in the chest in the middle of the crowded bar. He tried to run but collapsed at the front door in his wife's arms and died.

Three other men were also shot inside the business. They are expected to survive.

Khut said he hadn't heard any argument before the gunfire erupted. He estimated he heard three shots. He did not recognize the gunman, described as in his mid-30s, but was struck by how brazen he was, firing into a crowd and calmly leaving amid the chaos.

"He just casually walked out like nothing happened," Khut said. "It's crazy. It's the first time I've seen anything like this."

Khut has heard the shooter may have been recently released from prison and was targeting certain individuals. Portland gang and homicide detectives suspect the shooting resulted from an Asian gang dispute. No arrest has been made.

"I couldn't tell whether these are gangsters or not," Khut said.

Khut said police and paramedics quickly responded to the shooting. Investigators tried to detain and interview the more than four dozen witnesses, parking a bus outside. Khut didn't leave until 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

A makeshift memorial, with a photo of Ouk surrounded by candles and flowers, sat outside the entrance to the bar Monday.

Ouk, who was married with a child, was convicted in 2007 of fourth-degree assault, accused of approaching a man at a gas station on New Year's Eve 2006, and demanding to know what gang the man belonged to. While Ouk distracted the man, a co-defendant was convicted of striking the man in the head with a glass bottle.

Ouk was sentenced to four days in jail and placed on two years probation, ordered not to have contact with any gang members, not to drink or enter any bars or taverns.

Khut, a married father of two young children, is now worried about the future of his bar, which he poured his life savings into. His mother is the cook and his sister helps him run the business that's open from 10 a.m. until 2 a.m. seven days a week,

"We were off to a good start. We had a good turnout Thursday night when the Oregon Ducks won, and then this," he said. "All I wanted to do was have a place where people could always come and feel at home. It's devastating. Now, I'm worried this will taint our reputation, our name."

Speaking during lunch hour Monday, Khut said he's pushing forward, and still plans to hold several Halloween events this weekend, a food drive for Thanksgiving, a Toy Drive in December and a half-year business anniversary party at the end of the year. He's also started a collection of money to help support Ouk's family.

"I feel so badly for the family," he said, noting that Ouk's family is also from the city's small Cambodian community.

Most importantly, Khut intends to hire security.

"My priority now is to make sure safety of my customers is No. 1," Khut said. "I'll do whatever I can. I love the community. I want to give back as much as I can."

He intends to follow what he learned at Intel as he strives to keep his business alive. "One thing I learned from Intel is you invest during the down time."

Khut just hopes his customers won't be scared away.

"Now, I'm just hoping they come back," Khut said. "It's unbelievable what took place."

-- Maxine Bernstein