A Portland rent dispute has ended with a years-long prison term after a roommate was stabbed repeatedly in a NE Portland home. On Friday, a Multnomah County judge sentenced a man to 110 months in prison for a March 6, 2025 attack that left his roommate with life-threatening injuries. The victim survived after being hospitalized. A jury previously found the defendant guilty of first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.
Case details
According to KPTV, the attacker has been identified as 43-year-old Lazarus Ramirez, who has also used the names Larry Garcia and Lazaro Garcia. The outlet reports that Ramirez returned home on March 6, 2025 and stabbed his roommate 10 times during an argument over rent, then took off from the scene. The victim was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and later recovered. Police arrested Ramirez in April 2025, and after the jury's guilty verdict he was sentenced to 110 months in prison.
Charges and legal context
Under the Oregon Revised Statutes, assault in the first degree is a Class A felony as defined in ORS 163.185. Unlawful use of a weapon is set out in ORS 166.220. Both crimes carry serious potential prison time, which helps explain the length of the sentence imposed in this case.
Local impact
The case highlights how quickly a basic housing dispute can spiral into life-or-death violence when weapons enter the picture. According to KPTV, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office prosecuted the case. The station noted that the report did not include any statement from the defendant's attorney.
