Judge Frees Two Men in 2023 Portland Shooting Case

BUFF BAY, Portland —Two men charged in connection with a 2023 shooting in Buff Bay, Portland, have been acquitted in the Gun Court after a judge ruled that the evidence presented was insufficient to secure a conviction.

Justice Grace Henry McKenzie, in a ruling delivered on Friday, found 24-year-old Tyrese Williams and 25-year-old Diashaun Parker not guilty of using a firearm to commit a felony and wounding with intent.

The charges stemmed from a July 8, 2023 incident in which a taxi operator was shot in the face during an early-morning altercation in Buff Bay. According to reports presented during the trial, the victim had left a party at Buff Bay High School and later intervened in a dispute at a nearby plaza.

Prosecutors alleged that Williams, Parker, and a third man—who remains at large—approached the victim during the confrontation. It was further alleged that the third individual produced a firearm and shot the taxi operator.

Despite the prosecution’s case, the court determined that the evidence did not meet the required legal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, both men were freed of all charges.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that the accused had been identified in identification parades following their arrest. However, the judge found that the identification and supporting evidence were not strong enough to support a conviction.

Williams, a fisherman, and Parker, who is unemployed, are both residents of Orrette Lane in Buff Bay. They were represented by defence attorneys John Jacobs and Michael Deans.

The ruling brings an end to the case against the two men, though investigations into the third suspect are ongoing.