PORTLAND, Ore. — This month, Portland attorneys filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the United States Probation Office for the District of Oregon, alleging a man under their supervision violated the terms of his release dozens of times — then went on to murder three people.
In 2022, officers said 55-year-old Mark Johnson was shot and killed near Dawson Park in North Portland. Investigators went on to identify the suspect as Joseph Banks, a man with a history of mental illness and a criminal record. They'd soon name him as the suspect in two additional murders — that of Isaiah Hurst, and Jeff Ramirez.
Now, on behalf of Johnson's estate, the lawsuit alleges that his death was the result of the negligence of the federal probation office.
Banks had spent most of the last decade in federal custody, before the Court ordered him released to federal supervision, subject to series of conditions.
Court documents allege how in the six months preceding Johnson's death — Banks violated the terms of his release at least 30 different times — failing to take his medications, threatening staff at his Portland care home, and leaving the facility without returning.
Staff reportedly told Banks' probation officer that they were, quote, "concerned that all these small pieces to his current situation is going to create a much bigger problem." They also suspected, and reported, he might have a gun, according to the lawsuit.
Although the care home reported these violations to the U.S. Probation Office, the lawsuit claims that the probation officer failed to alert the court or set a hearing. It went on to say that "if the required action were taken on any one of the violations, Banks would have been returned to court and likely would have been back in jail."
KGW reached out to the U.S. Probation Office in Portland directly for a comment on Tuesday, but has not heard back.
As for Banks, records show he was committed to the Oregon State Hospital in June 2022.