PORTLAND, Ore. — A Portland cannabis store employee turned himself in for shooting and killing two people following an armed robbery of the shop in North Portland, according to Portland police.
Jason Steiner of Gresham, an employee of cannabis store La Mota in North Portland, turned himself in to detectives on Wednesday and is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon.
On Oct. 3, police officers responded to a shooting at the store, near North St. Louis Avenue and New York Avenue in Portland’s St. Johns neighborhood. The officers found two people dead when they arrived at the scene.
Investigators determined a shooting happened after three people tried to carry out an armed robbery.
On Wednesday, Portland police identified those killed as 18-year-old King Lawrence and 20-year-old Tahir Burley. Police said they’re searching for a third robbery suspect.
Photos of the damage inside the cannabis store the day after showed shattered glass all over the floor, as well broken display cases and a back pick-up window. Next to it was a sign saying due to a string of robberies, the store closed their doors at 9 p.m. The deadly shooting happened about 30 minutes later.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Brent Christensen at brent.christensen@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-2087, or Detective J.D. McGuire at jeff.mcguire@police.portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-2081 and reference case number 24-253852.
KGW’s Blair Best contributed to this reporting.