A Multnomah County judge has sentenced 43-year-old Felix Juarez-Perez to 23 years in prison for a 2024 shooting on a TriMet MAX platform in Portland that killed 24-year-old Taysean Nash. Juarez-Perez pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault with a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Kristen Kyle-Castelli called the killing “a senseless act of violence” and praised Nash’s family for their resilience. The sentence brings closure to a high-profile homicide case that has weighed on Portland’s east side since last fall, as reported by KPTV.
The victim was identified as 24-year-old Taysean Nash. Portland Police say the shooting happened on September 19, 2024, on the TriMet MAX platform at Northeast 148th Avenue and East Burnside Street, and the medical examiner ruled Nash’s death a homicide, according to the Portland Police Bureau.
Investigators later identified Juarez-Perez as the shooter. Police said he had been supplying Nash with drugs and went to confront him over money he believed he was owed. Juarez-Perez admitted shooting Nash and then hitting him with the gun, according to the plea and court outcome described by KPTV.
What the Charge Means
Juarez-Perez pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter along with related weapons charges, all of which carry steep penalties in Oregon. First-degree manslaughter is a Class A felony under state law and falls under Measure 11 sentencing rules. The statute defines it as causing someone’s death under circumstances that show an extreme indifference to human life, according to FindLaw.
Transit Safety and Local Context
The killing on TriMet property has fed into a broader debate about safety on Portland’s transit system. Prosecutors and transit leaders have pushed for tougher enforcement on trains and buses. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office began enforcing SB 1553, which criminalizes drug use on public transit, starting in 2025 as part of an effort to cut down on violence and drug activity, according to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.
The 23-year sentence brings criminal resolution in Nash’s killing, though Juarez-Perez still has access to standard post-conviction legal options. During the initial investigation, Portland Police asked the public to reference case number 24-240253 for tips. Anyone with information connected to that case is still urged to contact the department, according to the bureau’s September 2024 release.
