Nineteen-year-old Pedro Anthony Cornejo-Morales entered a guilty plea to the attempted murder of a teenager at Clackamas Town Center in December of last year. He was sentenced to 90 months in prison for second-degree attempted murder and unlawful use of a weapon. Under Oregon law, this sentence is mandatory for the offenses committed. According to Clackamas County, the use of a firearm during the incident directly led to the imposed prison term.
On December 20, 2024, Pedro Anthony Cornejo-Morales approached a vehicle and fired five shots at 15-year-old Zenon Elias Mendez, hitting him in the left hand. Earlier, Mendez and another individual had noticed they were being followed through the mall by Cornejo-Morales and his alleged accomplice, Carlos Raul Hererra-Medrano. After recognizing the two, they chose to leave, but the shooting occurred as they attempted to drive away. Cornejo-Morales was arrested shortly after near the mall. Hererra-Medrano, who faces the same charges of attempted murder and unlawful use of a weapon, was not taken into custody until December 31. His trial is set for August 12.
Mendez received treatment for his injuries at a nearby hospital, underscoring the close intersection of violence and emergency response. According to Deputy District Attorneys Josh Cutino and Jeremy Morrow, both suspects—residents of Gresham—had reportedly followed Mendez before the shooting, suggesting a premeditated attack carried out with deliberate intent, though the motive remains unclear.
