Two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old are facing murder and robbery charges in connection with the shooting death of a man who intervened in a robbery at a Portland Fred Meyer grocery store on January 13. The 47-year-old victim, Jonathan Trent, was shot and killed after trying to stop the suspect and a 16-year-old armed with a gun.
Police responded to a report of gunshots at the store at 3:50 p.m. and found Trent with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead.
The 15-year-olds, who are friends, and the 16-year-old were arrested and charged with murder and robbery. A third 15-year-old, who knows the other two, was arrested in connection with a separate robbery on January 1.
The 16-year-old is believed to be involved in a string of four other robberies that occurred in the area during the first two weeks of the year.
The Portland Police Department’s major crimes unit detected the connection between the crimes, including this incident, after investigating five related events that occurred in the 48 hours following the shooting.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office is deciding whether the two 15-year-olds charged with murder will be tried as adults. The three teens are currently being held at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Facility.
A GoFundMe initiative has been launched to help the victim’s son and his mother, citing his kind and joyful nature and the profound impact his loss has had on the community.
