A court decided Friday to keep the cannabis store manager who killed an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old who tried to rob the North Portland store at gunpoint in custody without bail until the matter goes to trial.
The most thorough examination of the state’s first-degree murder case against Jason Steiner, the only employee at the La Mota pot shot in the St. Johns area when three masked individuals broke in on October 3, 2024, was given during a bail hearing on Thursday morning.
The three were seen pointing firearms at Steiner in the surveillance tape that was shown in court before rushing him out from behind the counter.
According to the cameras, the 34-year-old was by himself outside the building on North Saint Louis Avenue when he took a revolver from his knapsack, doubled back to a walk-up window, and shot two thieves dead as they were packing marijuana into duffel bags.
Milwaukie residents Tahir Burley, 20, and King Lawrence, 18, were pronounced dead at the scene. An unidentified third individual, who appeared to be unharmed, left the area.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Todd Jackson stated that there was no hesitancy before to the shooting, notwithstanding Steiner’s later admission to the police that he went to the window to check if it was safe to leave.
According to the prosecutor, they were facing away from him and did not hold any firearms. He literally walks around the corner, takes a step back, and shoots fifteen bullets into the room at these individuals.
Detective Brent Christensen said that Steiner called 911 and hid in some bushes down the street after the incident. After about eight minutes, police arrived.
Although Oregon law permits the use of force against aggressive trespassers, Circuit Judge Celia Howes concluded in a five-page decision that Steiner could not claim self-defense since he was no longer in immediate danger by the time he was outside.
However, the burden of proof at bail hearings is lower than that needed to convict at trial—beyond a reasonable doubt.
Thalia Sady, the defense lawyer, contended that Steiner had sufficient reason to think his life was still in jeopardy.
According to Sady, Steiner was afraid that the robbers would follow him outside the store when they said, “Check him, get that bag,” as they ejected the La Mota employee. Steiner would not have been able to chase the robbers due to his asthma, the defense lawyer argued.
According to her, her client brought himself in after learning he had been charged, cooperated with detectives, and gave police the surveillance footage. The shooting’s surveillance film, which is just over a minute long, is audio-free.
Sady remarked, “We have the luxury of sitting in a courtroom with no stress, no adrenaline running through our bodies, and no danger to our lives.” Jason Steiner had only a few seconds to react as he saw what he thought were three fully loaded weapons aimed at his head.
Although the third would-be thief seemed to take out another firearm, Detective Christensen reported that only one loaded revolver was discovered at the scene.
According to Christensen, no phones were discovered with the two deceased, and a suspected getaway car that was discovered parked close by has not yet produced many leads.
Steiner’s mother observed the hearing from the gallery, while the families of Burley and Lawrence participated virtually.
Although Steiner remained silent, his lawyer played a brief clip of emotional testimony from a grand jury hearing.
During the tape, Steiner stated, “I just wanted to make it home to my mom.” All the while, she was the only person on my mind.
For The Oregonian/OregonLive, Zane Sparling reports on court proceedings and breaking news. You may contact him at [email protected], 503-319-7083, or pdxzane.
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