PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) – The trial of a Portland dispensary employee accused of fatally shooting two men during an alleged robbery at a cannabis shop began Wednesday, drawing sharp arguments over whether the killings were acts of self-defense or murder.
The Shooting
The incident occurred on October 3, 2024, at the La Mota dispensary in the 9400 block of North St. Louis Avenue. Prosecutors say Jason Steiner, an employee of the dispensary at the time, opened fire on three men inside the building after initially fleeing the store.
Surveillance footage presented in court shows Steiner outside the dispensary, firing through a window at the men still inside. Two of them—18-year-old King Lawrence and 20-year-old Tahir Burley, both from Milwaukie—were killed.
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Prosecution’s Argument
During opening statements, the state argued that Steiner was not acting in self-defense but instead escalated the situation after he was no longer in immediate danger.
Prosecutors noted that Steiner did not call 911 or seek help from nearby residents after leaving the dispensary. Instead, they claim, he returned and fired into the shop from outside, fatally striking Lawrence and Burley.
Court documents from the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office assert that Steiner “was in no danger when he pulled the trigger.”
Defense’s Claim of Self-Defense
Steiner’s attorney presented a different narrative, saying his client had been threatened with a gun during the chaotic moments inside the dispensary. The defense contends that Steiner believed his life was in imminent danger and that he fired in an effort to protect himself.
They argue that Steiner’s actions, while tragic, should be viewed through the lens of a man trying to survive a robbery situation rather than as deliberate murder.
The Victims
The two young men killed, Lawrence and Burley, were both from Milwaukie. The third man inside the dispensary during the shooting survived and has not been publicly identified by authorities.
The case has drawn attention because of the young ages of the victims and the unusual circumstances of a dispensary employee firing from outside the building after fleeing.
What’s Next
The trial is expected to hinge on questions of timing and intent—whether Steiner truly faced an imminent threat when he opened fire, or whether he acted outside the scope of lawful self-defense.
Jurors will weigh surveillance footage, testimony from investigators, and arguments from both sides as the case unfolds in Multnomah County Court.
For now, Steiner faces two counts of murder, with prosecutors pressing for conviction and the defense maintaining that the shooting was justified.
