What started as a late-night argument between twin brothers in a Northeast Portland motel parking lot has ended with a lengthy prison term.
A Multnomah County judge on Monday sentenced 29-year-old Martre Tirik Oliver to 150 months in prison for the 2022 shooting death of his twin brother, Martese Oliver. The shooting happened in the parking lot of a Howard Johnson hotel near Northeast 82nd Avenue and Northeast Sandy Boulevard in the early morning hours of Sept. 25, 2022, after what prosecutors said was a physical fight that spiraled into gunfire.
Oliver was convicted of first-degree manslaughter, felon in possession of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon and received a 150-month term, according to KPTV. Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Kristen Kyle-Castelli called the killing "violent, tragic and unnecessary," telling the court that a fight between the brothers "dramatically escalated when the defendant pulled a gun and shot Martese Oliver multiple times."
A Multnomah County jury found Oliver guilty of first-degree manslaughter in December 2025 and acquitted him of second-degree murder, as reported by KOIN. That coverage, citing reporting from The Oregonian, said the brothers drove to the motel from Martese's apartment in Renton, Washington, and got into an argument that turned deadly. One bullet hit Martese in the upper thigh and severed his femoral artery, according to the reporting.
Prosecutors said hotel security video showed the twins getting out of a small blue SUV and fighting, followed by three flashes consistent with gunshots. Martese Oliver was found at the scene with gunshot wounds, KPTV reported. U.S. Marshals arrested Martre Oliver in Renton a few days later, and he was extradited to Multnomah County to face charges, according to KXL.
The motel, which was operating as a Howard Johnson at the time and was later rebranded as a Quality Inn, had already been linked to several deadly shootings and had drawn increasing scrutiny. Local outlets noted a "hotel closed" sign by early 2025, KOIN reported. Neighbors and community groups had long criticized the property's management and security before it shut down.
Legal note
Oliver's convictions include first-degree manslaughter and weapons offenses, and the judge imposed a 150-month prison term at Monday's hearing. In cases like this, defendants can file post-trial motions or appeals through Multnomah County Circuit Court, a process that typically unfolds over many months or longer.
The case has added to ongoing scrutiny of motel safety along NE 82nd Avenue and stirred broader questions about oversight and public safety on the corridor. Court records for the case are part of the public Multnomah County docket.
