FACTS:
Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Katherine von Ter Stegge has found Joseph Kelly Banks guilty except for insanity on three counts of murder in the second degree, three counts of attempted murder in the second degree, three counts of assault in the first degree, three counts of assault in the second degree, and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon. The Defendant was committed to the custody of the Oregon State Hospital and ordered to lifetime supervision of the Psychiatric Security Review Board.
Victim Isaiah Hurst was murdered on the morning of Sunday January 2, 2022. The investigation determined that Mr. Hurst was driving home from breakfast as he paused at an intersection for a morning jogger. Surveillance footage captured the Defendant’s vehicle drive alongside Mr. Hurst’s driver door as several gunshots rang out. The Defendant sped away as Mr. Hurst’s vehicle came to a stop. Mr. Hurst was pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives recovered eight 9mm shell casings.
Victim Jeff Ramirez was murdered on February 2, 2022 near the intersection of SE 119th Avenue and Stark Street. Mr. Ramirez was seated in his truck as the Defendant approached and fired the same 9mm gun multiple times. Again, the Defendant sped away in his vehicle. Multiple witnesses rendered aid to Mr. Ramirez during his final moments. Law enforcement collected 9mm shell casings that were determined to have come from the same firearm involved in the murder of Isaiah Hurst.
After shooting Jeff Ramirez, the Defendant sped down Stark Street and fired the same weapon at a pedestrian, victim Stephen Barrera. The Defendant again sped away. Mr. Barrera ran into a nearby business that provided aid until medics could arrive. Mr. Barrera was seriously injured as a result of Defendant’s shooting.
The Defendant shot two more people on February 28, 2022. The Defendant shot victim Lillian Cloud near NE Stanton and Williams at 4:50 PM. The Defendant approached Lillian Cloud, demanding to know where they were from and suggesting they did not belong there. Lillian Cloud was shot as they attempted to flee. Lillian Cloud survived the shooting, but was seriously injured. The Defendant then shot victim Thad Thomas near the Maple Mallory Apartments at 5:23 PM. Mr. Thomas was shot as he was entering his vehicle with his partner and infant child. Mr. Thomas later reported that the driver of a dark colored SUV stopped and asked Mr. Thomas if he worked for the government prior to shooting him. Mr. Thomas survived, but was seriously injured. Law enforcement recovered 9mm shell casings at the scene of both shootings that matched the murders of Isaiah Hurst and Jeff Ramirez.
The Defendant shot and murdered Mark Johnson the following day, March 1, 2022, at approximately 12:04 PM. The Defendant used the same 9mm firearm to shoot Mr. Johnson at Dawson Park before fleeing. Mr. Johnson was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Law enforcement arrested the Defendant the following day, March 2, 2022. Subsequent to his arrest, the Defendant was evaluated by three separate forensic psychologists that separately concluded Defendant was guilty except for insanity, meaning that he suffered from schizophrenia and lacked substantial capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct and to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Eric Zimmerman and Deputy District Attorney Eric Palmer prosecuted the case for the state. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would like to express its sincere condolences to the families of the victims. Further, MCDA would like to thank Portland Police Bureau detectives Foote, Gandy, and Pontius for their investigative work on this case. We would also like to thank victim advocates Alex Bidwell, Lyssa Simmons and Alie Aguilera for their kind and compassionate work with the victim’s families before and during this trial.
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