Jeremy Christian appeared in court Tuesday on charges he killed two men and wounded another after he allegedly yelled hate speech at two young women
Stabbing suspect Jeremy Christian appears at an arraignment May 30,2017, in Portland, Ore.
PORTLAND, Ore. — A suspect made repeated verbal outbursts Tuesday as he appeared in court to face charges that he fatally stabbed two men and wounded another after yelling hate speech at two young women, one of whom was wearing a hijab, on a Portland light rail train Friday.
A defiant Jeremy Joseph Christian made his first appearance Tuesday afternoon before Judge Paul G. Crowley at the Multnomah Justice Center. As the 35-year-old entered the courtroom, he yelled about free speech before saying, «Death to the enemies of America. Leave this country if you hate our freedom.»
«You call it terrorism, I call it patriotism, » Christian said. «You hear me? Die.»
Portland stabbing survivor Micah Fletcher was in court May 30 as his alleged attacker Jeremy Christian was arraigned.
The outbursts were followed by a commotion outside the courtroom.
Two men were killed in Portland, Oregon, while protecting a pair of teenagers from a racist tirade. Friday’s deadly attack happened aboard a ligh…
Micah David-Cole Fletcher, 21, suffered a slash wound to his neck and chest as he tried to confront Christian and help the young women. Two other men who also came to the aid of the young women — Ricky John Best, 53, and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, 23 — were killed in the incident.
Police reports say Christian is seen on surveillance video yelling racial and anti-Muslims slurs at the two young women and attacking the men, who intervened, with a knife, CBS News’ Mireya Villarreal reports. Fletcher told investigators Christian «threatened to decapitate people.»
Police said they’ll examine what appears to be Christian’s extremist ideology, including social media posts indicating an affinity for Nazis and political violence.
Fletcher, recently released from the hospital, appeared in the courtroom during the brief hearing along with family of victims and supporters.
Christian is charged with two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of second-degree intimidation and one count of attempted aggravated murder, one count of first-degree assault and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon, reports CBS affiliate KOIN.
He has been appointed public defenders. Lane Borg, the head of the local public defender agency, said the office was «saddened by this tragedy» but urged people to let the justice system take its course.
Tuesday, Christian’s case was assigned to a judge and an attorney requested a speedy trial.
Deputies say they found bedding, water bottles, food and plastic bottles filled with urine after he attacked the woman in her Louisiana home May 3
Micah David-Cole Fletcher was one of three stabbed after confronting a suspect allegedly yelling hate speech at two young women on a Portland train; the two others died
