The manhunt for the suspect in a fatal Christmas Day hit-and-run in Portland came to a close on Wednesday, as U.S. Marshals apprehended 37-year-old Jared L. Landry in Vancouver. Landry is accused of fleeing the scene after his vehicle struck and killed 63-year-old David Wayne Becker in southeast Portland.
According to KOIN, Landry's arrest follows a Multnomah County grand jury indictment. The charges leveled against him include failing to perform the duties of a driver resulting in death, attempt to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, and reckless driving. Officials had made a public appeal to help identify Landry’s distinctive red Dodge Ram pickup, which was later seized from a Vancouver apartment building.
The Portland Police Bureau reported that an off-duty police officer found Becker at 12:19 a.m. on Christmas Day at the intersection of Southeast Stark Street and Southeast 106th Avenue. The officer immediately called for assistance and rendered aid to the injured man. Despite being quickly transported to an area hospital, Becker's injuries proved fatal. "The officer called 911 and provided aid. Becker was taken to a hospital via ambulance, but he was later declared dead," was stated in a news release by KGW.
Landry, now being held at the Clark County Jail, is awaiting extradition back to Oregon, as per the police bureau's announcement. The Columbian notes that the suspect vehicle, a red Ram pickup, was apprehended in December, tying Landry to the crash that resulted in Becker's untimely death. While Landry is poised to face justice in Oregon, the community continues to grieve the senseless loss of Becker.
