Two Portland teenagers have been charged with murdering a 65-year-old man while attempting to steal his car.
Ricky Malone Sr. died from a single shot to his chest on October 14 in North Portland, near the intersection of N Midway and N Bank. Portland Police Bureau officers first arrested Aaron Lewis Criswell, 16, and Richard Jerome Rand, 15, in connection with Malone’s death on October 24.
On Thursday, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that Criswell and Rand had been indicted on six felony charges each in connection to Malone’s death. The charges are one count of murder in the first degree with a firearm, two counts of murder in the second degree with a firearm, one count of robbery in the first degree with a firearm, one count of unauthorized use of a vehicle with a firearm, and one count of burglary in the first degree with a firearm.
According to a press release from the DA’s office, court documents show that Criswell, Rand, and a 14-year-old companion were planning to break into a home in North Portland the night of October 14, but “the alleged home invasion was interrupted by the resident, which prompted the three juveniles to flee the area on foot.”
“Law enforcement believes the group then encountered Mr. Malone who was nearby collecting cans and bottles,” the press release continues. “When the group confronted Mr. Malone… they demanded that he give up his vehicle, which was running nearby. When Mr. Malone refused, he was shot at close range in his chest.”
Malone died on the scene, and the three teenagers allegedly stole his car and fled the area. Police later found a 12-gauge shotgun near the scene.
Although Criswell and Rand are both minors, they will be tried as adults. That’s because the crimes they are charged with fall under Ballot Measure 11, which states that minors 15 and older can be tried as adults for especially severe crimes like murder. The DA’s office was unable to give any personal information about the 14-year-old present during the crimes because they are a minor and are too young to face Measure 11 charges, but the press release said they had also been arrested in relation to Malone’s death.
Both Criswell and Rand are being held in custody at the county’s juvenile jail, and are scheduled to appear in court there on November 1.
Speaking with the Oregonian last week, Malone’s brother Robert said they had grown up in North Portland. Robert said his brother Ricky was a student athlete at Roosevelt High School who went on to referee youth basketball games, calling it “one of his greatest enjoyments in life.”
“Our family is overjoyed that we now have at least a piece of closure,” Robert said after the initial arrests were made last week.
These kids and their sisters absolutely terrorized St. Johns for weeks leading up to this and the cops did nothing. Thanks to Nextdoor we were able to collect information and get it to the news.
Unfortunately for Ricky we were all too late. The cops had a chance to prevent this and failed. The blood is on their hands.