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.
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.
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