MAN WHO KILLED DISRUPTIVE PASSENGER ON TRIMET BUS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON (Photo) - 08/06/26

Case: 21CR40036                                                                                                                    August 6, 2026

Portland, OR- Wayne Conrad Thompson, 51-years-old, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 25 years, on August 5^th, for killing Adrian Richardson five years ago on August 8, 2021.

A Multnomah County jury convicted Thompson of Murder in the Second Degree. Additionally,  Judge Kelly Skye found the defendant guilty of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, also finding that he used a Firearm.

Senior Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Eric Zimmerman and Deputy District Attorney Branden Meadows handled the case for the state. After the sentencing Sr. DDA Zimmerman said:

“Tri-Met's ridership deserves to feel safe on the system and violence of any kind will not be tolerated.  Adrian Richardson didn’t deserve to die, and Thompson’s use of deadly force was completely and utterly unjustified. Hopefully Richardson’s family can have some peace now that the trial is over.”

The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Portland Police Bureau Detective Jeff Sharp and Tri-Met Manager of Security Operations and Investigations Ben McClean for their excellent investigative work on this case.

We would also like to highlight the care and compassion shown by MCDA victim advocate Alex Bidwell to the victim’s family in this case.

THE FACTS:

On August 8, 2021 at approximately 5:28pm Portland Police were called to a shooting on a TriMet bus near SE 26^th and SE Hawthorne Boulevard.

Video evidence and witness statements reveal what happened next. The victim, Adrian Richardson, boarded the bus at SE 26^th Avenue and SE Hawthorne and started yelling slurs, curses and other rude comments at a female passenger. The defendant took exception with Richardson’s behavior and told Richardson to get off the bus. When Richardson refused to do so, the defendant pulled out a small revolver and fired multiple times striking Richardson. Richardson died shortly thereafter.

(ps- the photos included here are of the victim, Adrian Richardson, provided by his mother.)

                                                   ###MCDA###