A tragic altercation in Clackamas has left one man dead and another facing life imprisonment. Chad Weston, a 53-year-old roofer and general contractor from Oregon City, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of 43-year-old mailman Tristan Thomas.
Fatal Confrontation at Twin Creek Apartments
The fatal incident took place on September 21, 2024, at the Twin Creek Apartments in Clackamas. Video footage presented in court captured the horrifying scene, showing Weston pinning Thomas to the ground in a stairwell while the victim screamed for help more than a dozen times. Thomas suffered 11 stab wounds, including to his head and neck, and was later taken off life support at a local hospital.
A Clackamas County jury heard closing arguments on Friday. If convicted, Weston faces a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
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The Argument That Sparked the Violence
The confrontation began when Thomas became involved in a dispute with a neighbor, Christopher Stewart. Evidence presented at trial showed that Thomas removed a cooler from Stewart’s pickup truck, urinated into it, and left it by the curb. Stewart, who was away at the time, was informed about the incident by his teenage daughter and returned home with Weston later that night.
When the two men confronted Thomas, the argument escalated into violence. According to the defense, Thomas allegedly attacked Weston first, stabbing him near his eye, torso, and hand with a kitchen knife. Weston then wrestled the knife away and stabbed Thomas repeatedly.
Attempts to Intervene Ignored
In the disturbing video, Stewart can be heard pleading with Weston to stop—reportedly saying “let him go” at least seven times—while Thomas continued to cry out for help. Despite these pleas, the assault continued until Thomas lay motionless.
Flight and False Story
After the deadly confrontation, Weston fled the scene in his work truck and returned to his Oregon City home. There, he allegedly told friends his injuries came from a motorcycle accident. Investigators later determined the wounds were consistent with the struggle described in the video footage and witness accounts.
Ongoing Trial and Possible Sentence
Prosecutors argue that Weston’s actions went far beyond self-defense, calling the stabbing “brutal and deliberate.” The defense maintains that Weston acted in a panic after being attacked by Thomas with a knife.
The jury’s verdict will determine whether Weston spends the rest of his life behind bars or receives a reduced sentence under Oregon’s parole guidelines. Regardless of the outcome, the case has left a deep mark on the Clackamas community, highlighting how a minor neighborhood dispute spiraled into a deadly confrontation.
