Jason Washington Shooting Grand Jury Transcript Gives New Details

PORTLAND, OR – "He's already a guy with a handgun in downtown Portland fighting on the street. Um, I can't, I can't trust that he's gonna decide not to start shooting people.

"I know that I'm not gonna shoot innocent people but I don't know, I didn't know him. I don't know his motives, anything about this guy. I can't trust that he's not gonna start killing people."

That's how 33-year-old James Dewey, an officer with the Portland State University security force described the moments in June before he and his partner shot and killed Jason Washington outside of the Cheerful Tortoise in downtown Portland. Get all the latest information on what's happening in your community by signing up for Patch's newsletters and breaking news alerts

Washington was a 45-year-old Navy veteran working for the post office when he was killed. During the fight outside the bar, he picked up a gun belonging to a friend despite being told not to.

Dewey's comments are included in the 415-page grand jury transcript that was released Tuesday by the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.

The grand jury heard from 20 witnesses over two days, reviewed police reports, and watched video shot by body cameras worn by Dewey and his partner before deciding not to indict the officers.

Dewey, who told the grand jury that he had spent 7-years in National Guard that included a combat stint in Afghanistan, also said that he had worked as a bartender and had a sense of recognition when he arrived at the scene.

"This had every feeling to me like it was a big drink bar fight," he said.

Dewey's partner, Shawn McKenzie, told the grand jury that the two of them had been on their way to another call when they came upon the fight.

McKenzie has since left PSU and Portland for another job out of state.

The video recorded by the body cameras worn by the officers was an important piece of evidence.

Officer Anthony Eugenio, who analyzed the footage for the Portland Police Bureau, said he concluded that Washington was pointing the gun toward officers and civilians.

The shooting has reignited the debate about whether PSU officers should be armed. This was the first fatal shooting involving one of the school's officers.

PSU says that are conducting an investigation into the shooting and a review of their security procedures including whether to continue having their security officers armed.

This story will be updated.

Photo via PSU.