Jessie Garza III has been handed a 32-year-to-life prison sentence, as per a recent announcement by the Multnomah County District Attorney's office. Garza pleaded guilty on Thursday to a series of charges, including second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and various other felonies connected to a sequence of events that terrorized the Portland community.
The conviction stems from events dating back to December 14, 2023, when Garza fatally shot Richard Newman multiple times after a confrontation. According to a statement obtained by the Multnomah County DA's office, police were summoned to the scene following a 'shots-fired' call. Witnesses characterized the shooter by a distinct description and used the name "Buddy," who had been looking for someone named "Moro," a person Newman was said to have fatherly ties to.
Garza's run-ins with law enforcement did not conclude with the murder. On December 28, 2023, during a stolen vehicle recovery operation, police were tipped off about Garza's presence in the area, leading to a high-speed chase and a harrowing encounter where Garza reportedly fired at officers. "An officer in a marked car tried to stop Garza but he accelerated away at a high rate of speed," the report detailed.
Police officers Corey Budworth and Justin Raphael were among those fired upon in the chase, with Raphael recounting the gun was pointed "directly at him" and witnessing the "muzzle flash" as shots were fired. Raphael and another officer, Hayden Keep, experienced bullets flying dangerously close during their attempt to apprehend Garza, who had taken cover in an apartment. These moments were underscored by a friend's attempt to intervene, revealing to detectives that Garza had confessed to being "aware that he was wanted for murder," and that "he was going to make the police kill him."
The Multnomah County DA's office also lauded the judicial process, thanking the investigative efforts of Portland Police Detective Stephen Gandy and highlighting the support by MCDA Victim Advocate Karla Juarez for the victims implicated in these traumatic events. With the plea agreement, Garza will be subjected to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 32 years, as well as a lifetime of post-prison supervision.
