A Portland man has been sentenced to a quarter-century behind bars after he pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge and two counts of attempted murder, court documents revealed. Brandon Nicholas Gilpin received a 25-year prison sentence from Multnomah County District Circuit Court Judge Andrew Lavin on Jul 9, stemming from a 2023 shooting that left one man dead and two others terrorized. The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office expressed gratitude towards the Portland Police Bureau, highlighting Detective Billy Winters for his investigative efforts.
The DA’s Office also commended Nang Dunn for her dedication in aiding the victims throughout the legal process. Deputy District Attorney Devin Franklin, who prosecuted the case, noted the severe impact of Gilpin's actions on the community. “This case involved shocking amounts of violence and criminal behavior over a short time," Franklin said, according to the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office. "The defendant caused a tidal wave of fear and grief that I am certain is still being felt to this day. He killed one person and tried to kill two more. I hope this sentence allows the people affected by these crimes to continue to try and heal."
Details regarding the case show that the fatal incident occurred on February 11, 2023. Police were dispatched to NE First Avenue and NE Hancock Street after reports of a shooting. Arriving officers discovered Torn Saephan, a houseless man, deceased in the roadway. Witnesses said earlier that day, Saephan had a brief interaction with two women living in a nearby tent and was asked to leave. He was seen sitting across from the tent when Gilpin, arriving in a Cadillac, confronted Saephan with a weapon and ultimately fired the fatal shot.
Two days following the killing, Gilpin returned to the scene, threatening the same women who witnessed the earlier crime. He aimed a firearm at them and questioned them about their discussions with law enforcement. With intentions of masking the sound of gunfire with an airhorn, Gilpin's plans were thwarted when the device malfunctioned, giving the witnesses time to escape unscathed. Throughout the trial and the sentencing, the reactions of the victims and those close to Saephan underscore the lingering sorrow and the long-lasting ripple of fear inflicted by Gilpin's actions on that fateful day in Portland.
