King Lawrence,Tahir Burley Obituary, Death; – A cannabis store employee in Portland surrendered to authorities on Wednesday after allegedly shooting and killing two individuals during an armed robbery at the establishment located in North Portland, as reported by the Portland police.
Jason Steiner, a resident of Gresham and an employee at La Mota cannabis store, voluntarily presented himself to detectives on Wednesday. He faces charges of two counts of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon.
On October 3, law enforcement responded to reports of a shooting at the store, situated near the intersection of North St. Louis Avenue and New York Avenue in the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland. Upon arrival, officers discovered two deceased individuals at the scene.
Investigators concluded that the shooting occurred after three individuals attempted to execute an armed robbery. On Wednesday, the Portland police released the identities of the deceased as 18-year-old King Lawrence and 20-year-old Tahir Burley. Authorities are currently seeking a third suspect involved in the robbery.
Images taken the day after the incident revealed extensive damage within the cannabis store, including shattered glass strewn across the floor, broken display cases, and a damaged back pick-up window. A sign indicated that, due to a series of robberies, the store had adjusted its closing time to 9 p.m., with the fatal shooting occurring approximately 30 minutes later.
Individuals with any information are encouraged to reach out to Detective Brent Christensen at brent.christensen@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-2087, or Detective J.D. McGuire at jeff.mcguire@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-2081, referencing case number 24-253852.
