A Portland man has been sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for his role in a fatal beating outside Mary’s Club in downtown Portland in 2021 — the first of two homicide cases in which he’s been charged.
Plea Deal Reached in Manslaughter Case
Antonio “Breeze” Howard, 35, pleaded no contest to second-degree manslaughter, meaning he did not admit guilt but accepted conviction under a plea agreement. Multnomah County Circuit Judge Katharine von Ter Stegge accepted the plea and delivered the sentence on Wednesday.
Howard had originally faced a first-degree murder charge, which carried a potential life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years. “Mr. Howard has entered a no contest plea to get the benefit of the bargain,” said his attorney, Sara Foroshani, during the hearing.
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The Deadly Attack
The incident occurred on July 15, 2021, when 50-year-old Patrick Pruitt drove downtown to help a friend search for someone living on the streets, according to prosecutors. Around 8 p.m., he encountered Howard near Southwest Broadway and Ankeny Street, outside Mary’s Club.
What began as a brief encounter escalated into a violent attack. Witnesses told police they saw a man — later identified as Howard — knock Pruitt to the ground and repeatedly stomp on his head. Some witnesses also reported hearing Howard shout a gang slogan, “six-oh neighborhood Crip,” as the assault took place.
Pruitt died from his injuries, and investigators quickly began piecing together the case.
Evidence and Investigation
Investigators recovered a food stamp card at the scene, which contained a fingerprint matching Howard’s. He was arrested two months later, in September 2021.
Howard’s defense team argued that police may have overlooked another potential suspect, claiming that man was a confidential informant who wasn’t properly investigated. Prosecutors disputed that claim, stating the other individual was never an informant and had been detained briefly after being mistaken for Howard due to their similar appearance.
Family Reaction
Outside the courtroom, Pruitt’s sister, Yaminah Thomas, spoke about the loss of her brother, remembering him as the “comic relief” of their family and a loving presence in their lives.
The siblings grew up in Long Beach, California, where Pruitt played football at Garfield High School. Thomas fondly recalled that her brother was her “cameraman” and escort on prom night — a memory that still makes her smile.
“He wasn’t perfect, like anybody else, but he was turning his life around,” she said. “I’m not truly relieved, but just glad it’s over.”
A Second Homicide Case Awaits
While Wednesday’s sentencing concludes the first of Howard’s homicide cases, he still faces another serious charge. In March 2025, he was indicted for second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Curtis D. Smith in Farragut Park in November 2021. That case remains pending.
Howard declined to make a statement before his sentencing.
Looking Ahead
The sentencing of Antonio Howard brings a degree of closure to the Pruitt family after more than three years of legal proceedings. However, with another murder charge still unresolved, Howard’s time in the courtroom is far from over.
