An Oregon man lost his life while trying to stop a purse-snatching, and now two teenagers are in custody, according to police in Portland.
Jonathan Trent, 47, was at the Fred Meyer grocery store on Northeast 102nd Avenue in the Hazelwood neighborhood of Portland on January 13. While leaving the store, he came across a robbery happening outside. What started as an attempt to help quickly turned tragic when gunshots rang out.
By the time officers arrived at the scene around 3:50 p.m., they found Trent lying in the parking lot. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but sadly, he didn’t survive.
Police have since arrested a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old in connection with the incident. Both teenagers are now in a juvenile detention center, facing charges of murder and robbery. Their names have not been released due to their age.
Trent’s death has shaken the community. A family friend has started a GoFundMe to support Trent’s son, Justin, and his mother during this heartbreaking time. The fundraiser describes Trent as a warm, kind-hearted person who brought joy to everyone around him. He was deeply involved in the community, often cheering on his son at the pool and inspiring others with his positivity.
According to police, Trent was leaving the store when he saw someone trying to snatch a purse. He stepped in to help, but as the suspects fled, they shot him. The Portland Police Bureau spokesperson, Mike Benner, expressed the department’s condolences, saying, “He went to the grocery store for a quick errand and should’ve returned home, but he didn’t.”
One of the teenagers, the 16-year-old, is already known to law enforcement. He is also facing charges for a series of four robberies earlier in January, police said.
Witnesses at the scene recounted the chaos. One shopper said she and her husband found Trent after leaving the store. Fred Meyer staff rushed out to help, and a small crowd gathered around him. Someone tried cutting open Trent’s shirt to check for injuries, but it was already too late. The shopper described the moment as deeply sad and shocking.
In an update to the fundraiser, Trent’s mother thanked everyone who has donated so far, saying the family deeply misses him. She shared that her grandson Justin is struggling with the loss of his dad, who was also his best friend.
This tragic incident has left a void in the lives of those who knew and loved Jonathan Trent, and the community is mourning the loss of a man who tried to make a difference.
