PORTLAND, Ore. — A Portland man already in custody for a 2024 homicide has now been charged in connection with a separate deadly shooting that occurred two years earlier. Authorities say the suspect, 36-year-old Alexander Emanuel Warren, faces two murder charges in two unrelated cases spanning nearly three years.
New Indictment for 2022 Old Town Killing
On Tuesday, a Multnomah County grand jury indicted Warren on charges of second-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm. The new charges are linked to the January 2022 killing of 26-year-old Jaquan Jamaul Jenkins in Portland’s Old Town district.
According to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), officers responded to reports of gunfire near Northwest 2nd Avenue and Couch Street in the early morning hours of a Friday. When they arrived, they found Jenkins suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite life-saving efforts, Jenkins was later pronounced dead.
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At the time, investigators said they believed several witnesses were present during the shooting but left the scene before officers arrived. Police have continued to seek additional information in the years since.
Previous Arrest in 2024 Homicide
Warren has been in custody since September 2024, following his arrest in connection with the May 2024 murder of 36-year-old Jessie Lavell Marks Sr. Marks was found shot to death near Providence Portland Medical Center in the city’s North Tabor neighborhood.
In that case, Warren was charged with second-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm — the same charges now filed in the Jenkins killing. His trial for the Marks case is scheduled to begin in March 2026.
Both victims’ families have provided photos to police, which PPB released alongside the announcement of the new indictment. Detectives confirmed that Jenkins’ family has been notified of the latest developments in the case.
Appeal for Information
Authorities continue to ask for the public’s help in the 2022 investigation. Anyone with information about the Jenkins case is urged to contact detectives by emailing homicidetips@police.portlandoregon.gov or by calling 503-823-0479, referencing case number 22-25950.
A City Once Gripped by Gun Violence
The newly filed charges come as Portland continues to confront the aftermath of several years of surging gun violence. Beginning in late 2020, the city experienced a historic rise in homicides and shootings, a trend that peaked between 2021 and 2022, when police recorded roughly 1,300 shooting incidents each year.
Many of these shootings were concentrated in specific neighborhoods and involved repeat offenders or individuals with prior felony convictions — a pattern that authorities say matches Warren’s alleged criminal background.
Violent Crime on the Decline
Despite those violent years, Portland has recently reported encouraging progress in reducing deadly crime. According to city data, homicides in the first half of 2025 dropped by 51% compared to the same period in 2024 — falling from 35 to 17 cases.
Officials credit this improvement to increased community outreach, targeted policing, and new city-funded violence prevention programs that focus on conflict resolution and youth engagement.
While the homicide numbers have declined, police emphasize that the city’s recovery remains fragile. Shootings, though significantly reduced, have yet to return to the lower levels recorded in 2019, before the pandemic and subsequent social unrest that reshaped Portland’s crime landscape.
Ongoing Legal Process
For now, Alexander Warren remains in custody awaiting trial for the 2024 killing of Marks, with his legal team yet to respond publicly to the latest 2022 indictment. If convicted on both murder charges, Warren could face a lengthy prison sentence, potentially extending decades.
Police and prosecutors continue to build their case, hoping that this dual investigation will bring long-awaited closure to the families of both victims — and serve as a reminder of the city’s ongoing struggle against gun violence.
