PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – A Portland cannabis store employee was charged last week with murder for shooting two armed robbers. But according to the district attorney’s office, it wasn’t self-defense.
On Thursday, 34-year-old Jason Steiner pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon.
In recently released court documents, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office claims Steiner was in no danger when he pulled the trigger.
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According to the DA, Steiner told police he was held at gunpoint by three armed men on Oct. 3 at the La Mota dispensary in the 9400 block of North St. Louis Avenue where he was working alone.
He told police he let the men take what they wanted and then Steiner says he left the store with a gun hidden in a bag.
He told investigators that he walked around the outside of the building and looked inside through the drive-up window, then opened fire on the men, who he believed were still holding their weapons.
In the documents, the DA’s office says there was no apparent reason for Steiner to stay nearby and video evidence shows that the men did not have guns in their hands.
The two men shot and killed were identified as 18-year-old King Lawrence and 20-year-old Tahir Burley.
In addition to the police case, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission is opening an investigation of its own into any possible administrative violations related to the shooting.
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Multnomah DA: Shooting at Portland cannabis store wasn’t self-defense – Fox 12 Oregon
