A Portland man has pleaded guilty to killing a stranger who approached his car after seeing a woman crying inside, bringing a nearly two-year-old Rose City Park homicide to a negotiated resolution.
Arvoni Hayes, 25, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon, according to OregonLive. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors will ask for an 18-year prison sentence, with Hayes scheduled to be sentenced on August 14.
Aaron McInnis, 30, was a father and sales representative who was shot on July 14, 2024, in Northeast Portland’s Rose City Park neighborhood. Officers found him suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds, and he died shortly afterward at a hospital, the Portland Police Bureau said.
According to court records reviewed by OregonLive, McInnis approached the car to check on the woman, while Hayes was naked and verbally abusing her. A witness said Hayes appeared to be trying to “put as many bullets into Aaron as possible.”
What Hayes’ Plea Means
First-degree manslaughter is a Class A felony under Oregon law. Legislative materials explain that the offense carries a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence under Measure 11, meaning the 18-year sentence prosecutors agreed to seek would exceed that floor, according to the Oregon Legislature.
Hayes was initially charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a loaded firearm in public. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office said a grand jury returned the indictment and that Hayes was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in September 2024 before entering a not-guilty plea at arraignment.
A Case That Began With An Unsolved Shooting
Earlier Rose City Park coverage described McInnis’ death as an unsolved shooting, with police asking the public for information. Hayes’ guilty plea now leaves sentencing as the next major step in a case that began with a late-night attempt to check on someone who appeared to need help.
