2 teens charged with murder, robbery after man killed outside Portland Fred Meyer
PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Two teenage boys have been arrested in connection to a murder and “numerous” robberies, the Portland Police Bureau said on Thursday.
According to police, a 16-year-old boy was arrested on Jan. 15 and charged with the murder of 47-year-old Jonathan Trent of Portland outside a Portland Fred Meyer on Jan. 13. Then, on Thursday, a 15-year-old boy was also arrested and charged with Trent’s murder.
Both boys were lodged at the Donald E Long Juvenile Detention Center and also face robbery charges.
According to police, Trent was shot and killed after seeing a robbery and trying to stop it on the afternoon of Jan. 13.
Police responded to the store on Northeast 102nd Avenue just before 4 p.m. to find Trent suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead.
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Along with robbery charges for the incident on Jan. 13, the 16-year-old is also suspected of being involved with four other robberies in the first two weeks of January.
Police noted in their announcement that a third teenager, a 15-year-old boy, who is “known to the other two suspects” was also arrested for a robbery on Jan. 1.
Matt Jacobsen, a sergeant with the Major Crimes Unit, says investigators were able to focus on several crimes that occurred in the area in the 48 hours following the incident, which helped in the arrests of the teen suspects.
“Throughout the course of the investigation, we’re able to identify five events that were related to this group,” said Jacobsen.
Portland Police say while there has not been a specific rise in this type of dangerous youthful criminal activity, the shooting of this innocent 47-year-old bystander and father over a stolen purse is troubling.
”This type of crime with these youths is fairly uncommon,” said Jacobsen. “Unfortunately, guns are available in this community and it’s deeply concerning to see youth of this age, armed with firearms.”
“Guns are everywhere, there’s so many, they’re all around,” said neighbor Mike Crall. “For teenagers to have access to them is completely unacceptable.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office will decide if they want to petition to try both suspects as adults.
Crall says he hopes in the wake of this tragedy, the city will do all it can to stop these violent acts before they start.
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