PORTLAND, Ore. — On Friday afternoon, 18-year-old Omar Mohammed Osman made appearance in a Multnomah County courtroom. Osman is one of three suspects accused of shooting and killing three young men, including two high school students, in a North Portland neighborhood back in 2023.
Some of the victims’ families saw Osman for the first time in court Friday.
“Our hearts are broken, our families are broken,” said Althea Sails, the grandmother of 20-year-old Patrick D. Johnson Jr. of Portland, who died in the March 2023 shooting. Friday would have been Johnson’s 22nd birthday.
“I have every intention of being nasty right now but the chain that I wear around my neck with ashes of Patrick won’t let me," Salis said through tears to Osman, who pleaded not guilty. "I stand here today to let you know, young man, you have a future and a promise — if you let God lead you, it’s not over for you. You should never have done it.”
Osman was indicted last month on a multitude of charges: six counts of first-degree murder, four counts of second-degree murder, seven counts of unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, seven counts of recklessly endangering another person, and one count of first-degree animal abuse.
Previously, Osman had been held at a Marion County Youth Correctional Facility on other, unrelated charges.
“I speak for everyone at PPB when I say we are beyond relieved that at least one of the individuals who we believe is responsible for this is off the streets and no longer able to do harm to anybody,” said Mike Benner, spokesperson for the Portland Police Bureau.
Police are still searching for the other two suspects in the case.
In addition to Johnson, the other two victims were Eskender Tamra, 17, of Portland, and Babu Daudi, 19, of Portland. In a letter to Franklin High School families, Eskender was described as "a quiet, reserved and respectful individual, whose smile and laugh could brighten any room." Daudi attended Franklin during the 2021-2022 school year before coming to Roosevelt, a separate letter to Roosevelt families noted. He was likewise described as "quiet, reserved and respectful."
“Why, why, why?" Salis said in court Friday. "It doesn’t make any sense ... and whatever has to happen to restore peace, to restore justice, I beg the court to make sure it happens."
Seeing Osman behind bars Friday brought some relief to the Portsmouth neighborhood, where the shooting happened. The community is still on the mend.
“It was just a really solemn type of scary thing for me and my children,” said Linda, who’s lived in the neighborhood for 20 years. The fact that someone was charged in the shooting made her feel somewhat better, she said.
"It's about time," her neighbor added.
As Portland police continue to search for the other two suspects, they ask anyone with information to call them. Osman is due back in court on July 31.