PORTLAND, Oregon — A Portland cannabis store employee who allegedly shot and killed two people as they attempted to rob the St. Johns location made his first appearance in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Thursday.
Jason Robert Steiner, 34, faces two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of unlawful use of a weapon, and an attempted murder charge. Steiner entered an initial plea of not guilty in court.
Portland police say Steiner was working at a La Mota location in North Portland on the night of October 3, when dispatch received a call that multiple people had been shot after an attempted robbery.
The two men killed have been identified as 20-year-old Tahir Burley and 18-year-old King Lawrence. Both men are from Milwaukie.
Steiner surrendered himself to authorities on Wednesday.
According to court documents, Steiner had previously been convicted of misdemeanor unlawful use of a weapon for an incident that took place in Wood Village in December of 2021. According to a probable cause statement, Steiner purposely backed into the vehicle of the owner of NW Compassion Recreational Cannabis Dispensary after Steiner was fired from the store.
Steiner then fled the scene in his truck, eventually hitting the unmarked vehicle of a Multnomah County detective. Steiner again drove off but was followed and eventually arrested by that detective.
He originally faced felony charges for the incident but ended up pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges in May of 2023. He agreed to serve three years of probation and take anger management classes.
Steiner is due back in Multnomah County Court on Oct. 18.