‘Good Samaritan’ slain trying to foil holdup at Gateway Freddie’s

UPDATED: TEEN SUSPECTS ARRESTED Week #241 Shooting Report | Portland Police official describes this outer East Portland gunshot murder as ‘beyond horrible’ …

Near this sign, marking the entrance to the Gateway District Fred Meyer store, a man is shot after trying to stop a stickup in the parking lot.

By David F. Ashton

Crime continues to be an issue in the Hazelwood neighborhood this year, after near-record numbers of illegal acts in 2023 and 2024, according to Portland Police Bureau (PPB) statistics.

January 13
Robbery witness shot to death in Gateway Shopping Center

The wounded man is rushed to a local hospital by ambulance, after being shot.

Shots ran out near the doors of the Fred Meyer Gateway store as twilight fell on Monday, January 13, and a man fell to the ground in the parking lot.

PPB East Precinct officers were dispatched to what was dispatched as a “Robbery-with- Weapon” at 3:49 p.m. – a call that was instantly updated to also being a “Shots Fired” incident. The first officer arrived at the Fred Meyer parking lot, in the 1100 block of NE 102nd Avenue, just three minutes later.

Police cordon off the area where they found the wounded man, and begin to investigate the shooting. Courtesy KGW-TV News 8

When they arrived, officers found an adult male down on the ground in the parking lot.

“At first, there were no indications that this individual had been struck by gunfire; [officers] thought it was a medical event that this individual had suffered,” PPB Public Information Manager Mike Benner told reporters. “He was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced decad.”

The PPB’s Mobile Command Unit arrives to serve as the workstation for their Homicide Unit detectives. Courtesy KGW-TV News 8

Due to the circumstances surrounding the man’s death, PPB’s Homicide Unit detectives were next to arrive. The initial investigation suggested that the man had been shot after witnessing a robbery and attempting to stop the armed suspect.

“He should have gone home a few minutes later; but he didn’t – and it’s because he witnessed a crime, and he tried to intervene [that he died],” Benner commented. “This was a good man who should still be with us today and isn’t — and that’s beyond awful.”

The armed bandit – now wanted for murder – has yet to be caught, but an intensive investigation is ongoing.

This is the man killed by the robber in this shooting: 47-year-old Jonathan Trent. Family-provided photo

On January 16, the PPB identified the shooting homicide victim as 47-year-old Jonathan Trent, of Portland. The Medical Examiner determined Trent died of homicide by gunshot wound.

UPDATE:

On January 23, the PPB revealed that two juveniles have been arrested for this murder, and for numerous robberies. To protect the identity of these children, officials are not releasing their names. Here’s the PPB statement:

On Thursday, January 23, a 15-year-old male was arrested. He was transported to the Donald E Long Juvenile Detention Center and lodged on murder and robbery charges related to the incident on January 13, 2025.

On Wednesday, January 15, a 16-year-old male was arrested. He was transported to the Donald E Long Juvenile Detention Center and lodged on murder and robbery charges related to the incident on January 13, 2025. In addition, the arrestee is believed to be involved in four additional robberies in the first two weeks of January.

A third teenager, a 15-year-old male and known to the other two suspects, was arrested for one robbery on January 1, 2025.  

If you have information about this homicide, contact Detective Brian Sims at Brian.Sims@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-2079 or Detective Meghan Burkeen at Meghan.Burkeen@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-2092 and refer to Case No. 25-11087.

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That’s it for this week’s East Portland News “Shooting Report”. To learn when, why, and how, these weekly “Shooting Report” articles began, and why they’re continuing, CLICK HERE.

© 2025 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™

 

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