Salvador Antonio Martinez-Romero has been convicted of murder after his violent actions resulted in a deadly stabbing spree that ended with one person dead and several others seriously injured. According to a report from the Washington County District Attorney's Office, Martinez-Romero entered a guilty plea to first-degree murder, among other charges.
The case, tried before Judge Brandon Thompson, concluded with Martinez-Romero sentenced to life in prison and he will be required to serve at least 30 years before being considered for parole for the murder, with an additional nine years to be served consecutively for the attempted murders and robberies. The tragic events unfolded on December 18, 2019, in a Beaverton, Oregon shopping center as Martinez-Romero initiated a robbery after quickly purchasing a large chef’s knife from a grocery store. He then proceeded to dangerously threaten bank tellers in a nearby bank for money.
The immediate fatality was Janet Risch, a customer in the bank at the time of the robbery, who was preparing to withdraw cash as Christmas gifts for her grandchildren. As reported by the Washington County District Attorney's Office, Risch's death occurred after Martinez-Romero, dissatisfied with the pace at which he received the money, attacked her daughter, Deb Thompson, and then stabbed Risch in the back. Despite efforts from her daughter and bank employees to render aid, she succumbed to her injuries.
Following the incident at the bank, the assailant fled and encountered a gym patron outside an area gym. When the victim resisted Martinez-Romero's demand for his car, the perpetrator stabbed him in the chest severely enough to cause serious injuries. Martinez-Romero then headed to Tigard, Oregon, where he abandoned the first stolen vehicle after damaging it but not before attacking a fourth victim to violently commandeer her car. Police managed to apprehend Martinez-Romero after a pursuit that ended on a high school campus. He was found with a large amount of stolen cash, with more hidden under leaves.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office extended their condolences to Ms. Risch's family, recognizing the resolve and strength demonstrated by all the victims through the harrowing ordeal. They also commended the collaborative efforts of the Beaverton and Tigard Police Departments, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and all first responders involved in the resolution of this tragic case.
