PORTLAND, Ore. — A Portland man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the fatal shooting of a Salem woman in 2022.
Conviction and Sentencing
On September 9, 2025, Jose Ruben Moreno-Hernandez, 36, received the sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree homicide and unauthorized use of a firearm. The plea agreement came just two weeks earlier, on August 26.
The charges stemmed from the death of Marcie Harris, 42, who was found fatally shot on July 21, 2022.
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Discovery of the Victim
According to Salem police, officers were dispatched to the 3300 block of Portland Road NE on July 21, 2022, after receiving a welfare check request. When they arrived, they discovered Harris slumped over in a vehicle.
Investigators determined she had died from a gunshot wound. The case was quickly classified as a homicide.
Police did not release further details about the investigation, including how Moreno-Hernandez was identified as a suspect.
Indictment and Transfer
A sealed indictment charging Moreno-Hernandez with Harris’ killing was returned by a Marion County grand jury in February 2023. At the time, Moreno-Hernandez was serving a six-year prison sentence in California for car theft.
In September 2023, he was transferred to the Marion County Jail to face prosecution in Oregon. Initially, he faced charges of second-degree murder and criminal use of a weapon.
Plea Agreement
Court records show Moreno-Hernandez later entered into a plea agreement, admitting guilt to first-degree homicide and unauthorized firearm use. The agreement resulted in the 25-year prison term handed down this month.
Closing the Case
While the sentencing brings closure to a three-year-long case, police have not provided additional details about the circumstances leading up to Harris’ death. Questions remain about the motive and Moreno-Hernandez’s connection to the victim.
Still, the guilty plea ensures that Moreno-Hernandez will remain incarcerated for decades.
