A Portland court declared a mistrial in the case against Geoffrey Edward Hammond, an Uber driver accused of murder and attempted murder after a shooting in October 2023 during a road rage incident. The court's decision means the state now has to decide whether to retry the case.
On October 11, 2023, Hammond became involved in a confrontation near the Moxy Hotel after stopping his Mercedes SUV to pick up a fare. His vehicle was partially blocking a lane, which caused traffic issues. The situation escalated into violence, leaving one man dead and another wounded. A bystander filmed parts of the incident. Hammond claimed he acted in self-defense and reported the shooting to the authorities, turning himself in before the trial. Security camera footage and the bystander’s video were key pieces of evidence in the case, which the jury found challenging to interpret, according to KGW and KPTV.
The trial has ended in a mistrial after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The incident, which took place at the intersection of Southwest 10th Ave and Southwest Alder Street, now awaits the decision of state prosecutors. They must determine whether to pursue a new trial for Hammond or proceed with sentencing on lesser charges already secured. The public is now waiting for the state's next move, which could either lead to another trial or a conclusion to the case, as reported KOIN.
