According to a probable cause affidavit submitted to the court on Monday, the 18-year-old who is suspected of shooting and injuring a younger adolescent in the Clackamas Town Center parking lot on Friday followed the victim and a female inside the mall before leaving to their vehicle.
Around 2:50 p.m., Pedro Anthony Cornejo-Morales, who had previously interacted with the 15-year-old kid, went up to the two of them as they were in a car in the parking lot.
In the affidavit, Clackamas County Deputy District Attorney Joshua T. Cutino stated that Cornejo-Morales stood on the passenger side of the car and fired several shots into it after witnesses spotted two individuals in black approaching the car.
According to Cutino, the 15-year-old youngster responded with fire. He received treatment at a nearby hospital after being shot in the left hand.
On a busy Friday before Christmas shopping day, the shooting took place in the crowded parking lot of the mall in front of the Barnes & Noble store. According to witnesses, the area close to the shooting location had at least four bullet casings.
According to the affidavit, the 15-year-old sought a mall staffer for assistance in locating an exit to reach their car after realizing that Cornejo-Morales and another individual were pursuing him.
The mall’s surveillance footage captured the 15-year-old and a woman leaving. The 15-year-old walked south through the parking lot as the woman climbed into the driver’s seat of a car. The 15-year-old was then picked up by the female in her car.
Cornejo-Morales was one of two individuals who went up to the car after the 15-year-old got inside and shot the passenger side.
Cornejo-Morales was apprehended by police after they discovered him approaching the I-205 multipurpose route close to the shopping center. There is still no sign of a second suspect.
Cornejo-Morales faces charges of second-degree assault and attempted second-degree murder. He was arraigned in court Monday afternoon while being detained at the Clackamas County Jail.
No motivation for the shooting is mentioned in court documents.
Prosecutors in Clackamas filed a motion for preventative detention, asking the judge to order Cornejo-Morales to remain in custody because they believe the accusations are violent felonies and that his release could put the victim or others in danger of bodily harm.
According to jail records, Cornejo-Morales is being held without bond. The state’s motion for preventative detention is scheduled for hearing at 3 p.m. on Friday.
Friday s shooting occurred 12 years aftera 22-year-old gunman strode into the mallduring the busy Christmas holiday shopping season and opened fire in the food court, killing two shoppers and seriously injuring a third before he killed himself.
— Maxine Bernstein writes about criminal justice and federal courts. You can contact her via [email protected], 503-221-8212, X@maxoregonian, or LinkedIn.
Your support is essential to our journalism. Sign up for OregonLive.com now.
Stories by
Maxine Bernstein
-
Oregon man used another s Social Security number to open more than 30 bank and credit card accounts
-
Mother asks for leniency for Tigard man who sold her son deadly dose of fentanyl: We do not seek revenge
-
2 Portland lawyers must respond to subpoenas in inquiry into secret romantic relationship between ex-judge and Texas attorney, judge rules
-
St. Helens School District has spent more than $190K so far to respond to sexual misconduct crisis
-
Attorney General Merrick Garland praises Oregon prosecutions of drug dealers, gang leaders and fraudsters
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
