FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

OCTOBER 16, 2018

Grand jury hands down murder indictment following October 5th homicide in North Portland

Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced 35-year-old Robert James, Jr. was arraigned on an eight count indictment.

According to previously filed court documents, on October 5, 2018, the defendant was at the corner of Northeast Wheeler Street and Northeast Multnomah Avenue when he killed 44-year-old Markell Jones and injured two other people using a firearm during the same criminal episode. An officer assigned to the Portland Police Bureau was at the Moda Center working an event when he heard gunshots. The officer saw an individual, later identified as James, shooting a firearm. The officer chased the defendant for about a block before taking James into custody. Law enforcement recovered a firearm from the scene, which has been seized for evidence. Video from the Moda Center shows James shooting into a vehicle around 11 p.m. on October 5, 2018. Mr. Jones, the passenger inside the vehicle, died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. The driver of the vehicle sustained a gunshot injury. The third victim, who was standing on a nearby TriMet platform was also struck by gunfire from the defendant’s firearm.

The indictment charges James with one count each of murder with a firearm, attempted aggravated murder with a firearm, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. James is also charged with two counts of assault in the second degree with a firearm and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon with a firearm.

James appeared in court on October 16, 2018 where a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

A copy of the PC statement and indictment filed in this case can be obtained using case number 18CR66906 in the Oregon eCourt Case Information (OECI) system.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

#MCDA#

Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director

Phone: 503.988.6567

Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us