Heroic Act Turns Tragic: Man Killed Trying to Stop Purse Snatching in Fred Meyer Lot

Miamistandard– A man in Oregon died while trying to stop someone from stealing a purse, and now two teens have been arrested, according to local police.
On January 13, Jonathan Trent, 47, was shopping at the Fred Meyer grocery store on Northeast 102nd Avenue in the Hazelwood area of northeast Portland when he saw a mugging happening outside, according to the Portland Police Department.
Then, gunshots were heard.
At 3:50 p.m., police got to the parking lot and found Trent there. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead.
A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old boy are in a youth detention center facing charges of murder and robbery, according to the police. The teenagers are not being named at this time.
A family friend started a GoFundMe for Trent’s kid and mother.
“The fundraiser says, ‘Jon was a warm, kind, and joyful man who brought happiness to everyone around him.’” “He was always at the pool, cheering on Justin and motivating our community with his positive attitude and kindness.” His loss has created a deep sadness in our hearts and in the lives of everyone who knew him.
The police think that Trent was leaving the store when he saw someone steal a bag. He tried to help, but was killed in the process, as reported by The Oregonian. The police did not specify the exact location of the heist.
“On behalf of the entire Police Bureau, I want to express our sympathy to Mr. Trent’s family and friends,” said Police Bureau director Mike Benner in a statement to the newspaper. “He went to the grocery store for a quick task but didn’t come back home.”
Police say that the suspect or suspects are accused of shooting the person who tried to help as they escaped the crime scene.
At least one of Trent’s suspected killers is said to be familiar to the police. According to the police, the 16-year-old boy is also facing charges for a series of four robberies that happened in early January.
A witness told the Oregonian that another customer found the dying man as she and her husband were leaving the store. Fred Meyer employees quickly came outside, and a small crowd formed around him.
Someone cut open Trent’s shirt to look for injuries, but it was too late. The man had stopped moving.
“It’s really sad,” the witness said to the newspaper.
In an update about the online fundraiser, Trent’s mom thanked everyone who has given so far.
“We miss Jon,” she wrote. “Justin misses his dad and his best friend.”