Editor’s note: This article was updated Oct. 11, 2024.
A cannabis dispensary worker in Portland, Ore., was arrested and charged with murder after turning himself in to authorities on Oct. 9. The charges are related to an Oct. 3 shooting that left two people dead following an armed robbery of the store by three individuals, according to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB)
Jason R. Steiner, 34, of Gresham, Ore., surrendered himself to detectives Wednesday and was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on two counts of second-degree murder charges and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, according to the PPB.
An investigation revealed that the fatal shootings happened following an armed robbery of the cannabis dispensary where Steiner was employed, according to the PPB. King H. Lawrence, 18, and Tahir D. Burley, 20, both of Milwaukie, Ore., were identified as the two individuals who were killed during the shooting, while a third robbery suspect is being sought.
“Steiner was an employee of the cannabis retailer,” according to a PPB release.
The shooting took place at 9:39 p.m., Oct. 3, at the La Mota adult-use cannabis dispensary on St. Louis Avenue in the St. Johns Neighborhood of North Portland. Hours of operation on the dispensary’s website indicate that the store was scheduled to close at 10 p.m.; however, a sign saying the retail location had closed its doors at 9 p.m. due to a string of robberies in the area was found at the scene, KGW8 News reported.
La Mota had reported four previous robberies to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) at its North Portland location, according to the OLCC. The dispensary is currently closed and does not have an anticipated reopening date.
The OLCC announced Oct. 11 that it is conducting an administrative investigation into a fatal incident that took place at the dispensary. “OLCC is investigating possible administrative violations related to the incident,” according to the commission.
LaMota North Portland LLC has been licensed since November 2020, with Aaron Mitchell and Rosa Cazares listed as members of the LLC, according to the OLCC.
Steiner has had a valid cannabis worker permit since May 9, 2023, according to the OLCC.
When Portland Police officers responded to the report of a shooting on Oct. 3, “a person believed to be involved remained on scene and is cooperating with police,” according to the PPB release.
Detectives from the Portland Police Homicide Unit responded to the scene to investigate.
The case remains under investigation, according to the PPB.
