April 20, 2022
Elisabeth Shepard, Communications Director
DA Mike Schmidt announces Robert Jay James, 39, found guilty of murder, other charges
PORTLAND, Oregon – Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced that yesterday, April 19, 2022, a 12-person jury in Multnomah County found Robert Jay James, 39, guilty of Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Murder in the First Degree, two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, three counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
On October 5, 2018, a Portland police officer heard gunshots while working at an event at the Moda Center. The officer surveyed the area and saw an individual later identified as James fire multiple shots. The officer chased James approximately one block from the area of the shooting, arrested him, and recovered the firearm used in the shooting from his person.
James shot three people, one of whom included Markell Jones who later died at a hospital. Thirteen shell casings found at the scene matched the firearm recovered from James.
James was a convicted felon at the time of the incident. He will be sentenced on June 3, 2022.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office thanks the Portland Police Bureau for their work on this case.
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