A Multnomah County jury has convicted Wayne Conrad Thompson of second-degree murder in a deadly 2021 shooting aboard a TriMet bus, a case that turned an ordinary ride into a fatal encounter for fellow passenger Adrian Richardson. Thompson was also found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6, 2026.
Multnomah County prosecutors told KATU that the jury returned a verdict of second-degree murder with a firearm, and that Multnomah County Judge Kelly Skye separately recorded the felon-in-possession finding. The state was represented at trial by Senior Deputy District Attorney Eric Zimmerman and Deputy District Attorney Branden Meadows.
Where and how it unfolded
According to the Portland Police Bureau, the shooting happened on August 8, 2021, when a No. 14 bus pulled up near Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard and Southeast 26th Avenue. Officers arrived to find that 44-year-old Adrian Anastacio Richardson had been shot multiple times and that the suspect had already left the bus. Detectives arrested Thompson on August 28, 2021, closing in on the suspect about three weeks after the attack.
What prosecutors say
As reported by KATU, prosecutors told jurors that a brief confrontation on the bus turned deadly when Thompson pulled a pistol, pointed it at Richardson, and opened fire. They say Richardson was hit five times in an exchange that lasted about 10 seconds. “Violence on the transit system won't be tolerated, and we hope our riders know that we take their safety very seriously,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Eric Zimmerman said in a joint statement.
Transit safety and prosecution context
TriMet and county prosecutors have been tracking enforcement and prosecution activity as part of broader efforts to improve safety on buses and trains. A TriMet safety and security update outlines metrics such as fare enforcement and coordination with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, underscoring the agencies' ongoing focus on rider and operator safety. For more detail, see TriMet.
Thompson's sentencing hearing is set for July 6, 2026, when the judge is expected to hear from prosecutors, defense counsel, and any victim impact speakers before imposing punishment. The conviction closes a long-running homicide case tied to an on-board transit shooting and highlights how violent encounters on public transit are being pursued by local prosecutors and police.
