PORTLAND, Ore. — A jury has convicted Geoffrey Hammond on all counts related to a fatal road rage incident that occurred in downtown Portland last year. The unanimous verdict came after nearly two weeks of testimony and deliberation.
Hammond faced charges of second-degree murder and attempted murder, along with separate assault and weapons charges. This retrial followed a previous attempt in December, when a Multnomah County jury could not reach a unanimous decision on those counts. He has yet to be sentenced for these convictions.
The incident took place on October 11, 2023, at around 4:30 p.m. near Southwest Alder Street and 10th Avenue. According to surveillance footage, Hammond was parked near the Moxy Hotel when Ryan Martin, 47, approached following a brief exchange in traffic.
In a dramatic turn of events, Hammond shot Martin from inside his vehicle after about 13 seconds of confrontation. Nearby pedestrians were seen ducking for cover as Martin fell to the ground, having been struck by gunfire. Tragically, Martin died at the scene and was unarmed.
As Hammond fled the scene, he also shot Sam Gomez, a conference attendee who was filming the aftermath. Gomez was injured when a bullet passed through one leg and shattered the femur in the other but ultimately survived the ordeal.
Following the shooting, Hammond calmly called 911, claiming he acted in self-defense. He later drove to a parking garage and surrendered to police.
During interviews after the first trial, a juror described how video evidence and witness testimonies clearly pointed to Hammond’s guilt. In that initial trial, 11 jurors supported a conviction for the murder charges, but one juror’s dissent led to a mistrial.
Hammond’s defense team maintained that he felt threatened and acted in self-defense, while prosecutors contended that his response was not justified and far exceeded any reasonable claim to protection.
This verdict highlights the ongoing concerns about road rage and gun violence in urban areas.
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