PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — A Portland man is behind bars without bail after being charged in a random stabbing attack near a bus stop in Northwest Portland last week.
Portland Police responded to the scene near 225 NW Couch Street on June 11, where they found a man suffering from a neck wound.
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According to court documents, the victim said he was walking along Burnside toward a bus stop when he felt what he thought was a punch to the back of his neck. When he turned around, he saw a stranger smiling at him—and then realized he was bleeding from a stab wound. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors closed the wound with staples.
Police later reviewed surveillance footage from a nearby hotel that captured the attack on video. The suspect, identified as Justin Eric Turner, 37, was seen running up behind the victim, stabbing him in the neck, and then casually walking away. Officers located Turner nearby and arrested him.
Repeat Offender
Turner has a history of violence. In a 2021 incident, he attacked another man who had just thrown away a cup while pushing a cart near NE Weidler and MLK. Turner began yelling, threw the man to the ground, and stabbed him in the throat. The victim survived after emergency surgery, with doctors noting the knife narrowly missed a major artery.
Turner later pleaded no contest to attempted assault in that case and was sentenced to 40 months in prison under a plea deal.
New Charges Filed
In the current case, Turner was arraigned Thursday on several charges:
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Attempted Murder
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Assault
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Attempted Assault
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Unlawful Use of a Weapon
He is being held without bail and is scheduled to return to court on June 23.
Prosecutors are calling the latest attack completely random and unprovoked, heightening concerns about repeat violent offenders in the community.
