PORTLAND, Ore. — Court documents reveal that the man accused of stabbing and killing 23-year-old Juan Orellana-Gavarrete near a Southwest Portland MAX station on Christmas Eve was serving probation for harassment that occurred on another TriMet train.
The accused killer, 22-year-old Edel Cruz-Aragon, was booked into Multnomah County jail on December 26. Police said that he was fighting with Orellana-Gavarrete near a MAX platform at Providence Park in downtown Portland. Multnomah County court documents say Cruz-Aragon swung at Orellana-Gavarrete with a knife and he began "bleeding profusely."
Orellana-Gavarrete, suffering from the stab wound, got aboard a MAX train. Officers and paramedics found him on the train at the Goose Hollow platform. He later died in the hospital.
Police arrested Cruz-Aragon on Tuesday near Southwest 9th Avenue and Oak Street.
Earlier this year, Cruz-Aragon was arrested for another incident on a MAX train, this one at a MAX Green Line platform near Clackamas Town Center on February 4.
Officers from the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said that Cruz-Aragon "was yelling towards the conductor cab while he cornered (a) passenger in the corner of the MAX." Then, according to court documents, he followed her off the train and pushed her from behind. Officers used pepper spray during the arrest.
On December 7, Cruz-Aragon pleaded guilty to the harassment charge and received a sentence to serve probation.
He's also faced other charges in the past, including criminal mischief and trespass. Cruz-Aragon was ordered to pay over $900 in restitution for damaging Los Dos Agaves, a restaurant in Canby, earlier this year.
Cruz-Aragon is currently behind bars in Multnomah County, charged with murder in the second degree and unlawful use of a weapon. He's set to appear in court on January 5, 2024.
TriMet said that they're still working closely with Portland Police and are grateful officers apprehended Cruz-Aragon.
"We do have over 8,000 cameras across our system. When something happens on TriMet it's probably going to be captured on camera," said Tia York, TriMet media relations manager. "It is absolutely devastating, and our thoughts go out to the person who died and their loved ones."