Following a several-day trial, the Portland community received a verdict in a high-stakes criminal case involving repeat offender Dwayne Driver. According to a report by the Multnomah County District Attorney's office, a jury has found Driver guilty of attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, and unlawful use of a weapon, all with a firearm.
This case stems from a violent incident on March 18, 2023, where a man was shot multiple times outside a Chevron gas station on southwest Burnside and 4th Avenue, near Dante's Theater. The victim, an adult male, was discovered with wounds to his stomach, thigh, and left arm and required emergency surgery. The subsequent investigation led officers to six 9mm shell casings at the scene, and security footage depicting a male suspect shooting into a party bus before fleeing in a silver Audi SUV.
Identification of the suspect was swift as multiple police and probation officers recognized Dwayne Driver from the footage. This led to the discovery of a silver Audi SUV at the defendant's residence and the recovery of clothing matching that of the shooter in the video during a warranted search. Driver was arrested on April 13, 2023, and has been in custody since, with the trial finally commencing on December 9.
The trial concluded with a guilty verdict delivered last Thursday, by a 12-person jury. According to the district attorney's news release, Deputy District Attorneys Eric Palmer and Mackenzie Ludwig represented the state during the trial, presided over by Judge Kelly Skye. The conviction marks the second for Driver, his first being a 2014 case of similar charges out of Washington County.
While sentencing is yet to be scheduled, the gravity of the convictions points toward a significant term for Driver, who remains in custody. The District Attorney's office extended their appreciation to the PPB Enhanced Community Safety Team and MCDA victim advocate Julie Jacobs for their efforts in bringing resolution to the case.
