MILWAUKIE, Ore. – A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 30 years, for his role in a deadly double shooting outside a Milwaukie convenience store in 2022.
On September 26, Clackamas County officials confirmed that Kaythan Miguel Tenry pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Jamahl Nash and Stanafurd Blacknall.
Deadly Shooting in 2022
The incident unfolded in the early hours of October 12, 2022, at a 7-Eleven on Southeast Lake Road.
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Surveillance footage captured Nash’s vehicle pulling into the parking lot at 1:31 a.m. After a brief interaction with another man, later identified as Frank Efrin Nifon, the car attempted to leave. Moments later, gunfire erupted.
Tenry and Nifon opened fire on the car from both sides, unleashing more than a dozen rounds. The barrage forced Nash’s vehicle to crash into a nearby fire hydrant, where both Nash and Blacknall were discovered fatally shot. Investigators later confirmed the car had been struck by at least 15 bullets.
Plea Deal and Sentencing
Tenry’s guilty plea came after negotiations with prosecutors, resulting in the dismissal of other charges. His sentence ensures he will spend decades behind bars before being eligible for parole.
Nifon, who was also directly involved in the incident, was tried separately. He received a 25-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree manslaughter.
Clackamas County Deputy District Attorneys Brian Powell and Jeremy Morrow handled the prosecutions, concluding the cases earlier this year.
Motive Remains Unclear
Despite extensive investigations and convictions, the precise motive behind the double murder remains uncertain. Law enforcement confirmed only that the shooting was intentional, but no clear explanation for the violence has emerged.
Court records indicate that as Tenry and Nifon walked toward a nearby apartment building, security cameras captured muzzle flashes and images of both men. Those photographs, circulated to law enforcement, helped lead to their arrests.
The Firearm Connection
One of the key breaks in the case came through a separate investigation. A Clackamas County Sheriff’s deputy recovered a firearm during an unrelated incident, which was later linked to the 7-Eleven shooting.
Ballistics testing confirmed that shell casings from the crime scene matched the recovered weapon. Authorities further discovered the firearm in the possession of Tenry’s cousin at Kaiser Sunnyside Hospital, directly tying Tenry to the double homicide.
Community Impact
The killings of Nash and Blacknall shocked the Milwaukie community, particularly given the brazen nature of the shooting in a public space. The violence underscored broader concerns about gun crime in Clackamas County, where prosecutors have vowed to pursue aggressive action against offenders.
While the court case has concluded with the convictions of both suspects, the unanswered questions surrounding motive leave lingering uncertainty for the victims’ families.
Conclusion
With Tenry sentenced to life in prison and Nifon already serving 25 years, both perpetrators are now behind bars. Yet, the case serves as a chilling reminder of how quickly routine moments—such as stopping at a neighborhood 7-Eleven—can turn deadly.
Authorities say the convictions bring some measure of justice, though the tragic loss of two lives continues to weigh heavily on the community.