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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – After a stabbing took place outside of Multnomah County Central Library in August, County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson released a statement on Monday calling on the District Attorney’s Office to release security footage of the attack in an effort to bring “transparency” to the case.
On Aug. 25, Zebulin Hannon was leaving the library when he saw a disturbance and tried to intervene. That’s when Hannon was stabbed several times and assaulted by two other suspects with skateboards, authorities said.
Portland police responded to the scene, near Southwest Yamhill Street and 10th Avenue, and later found the suspects, who fled the scene, in the Holladay Park area.
The three suspects — 18-year-old Anthony M. Nicholas, 21-year-old Ja’Riyah L. Williams and 18-year-old Daviana E. Anderson — were all booked on assault and unlawful use of weapon charges.
After the attack, Hannon was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries — later telling KOIN 6 News that security officers stood by as he defended himself against a barrage of knives and skateboards using only a belt.
Although the county said they’ve taken several steps over the last few months to increase safety and security, Hannon said it is clear patrons at this branch are on their own.
Now, Vega Pederson is asking Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez to release security footage from the incident in an effort to provide “transparency” to the public, along with city and county leaders and to “combat misinformation” about the stabbing.
“First and foremost, my concern following the violent incident that occurred across the street from the Multnomah County Central Library on Aug. 25 is for those community members at the heart of it. This was a traumatic incident for everyone involved. We all want a society where everyone is safe to walk on our streets and people are held accountable for their actions,” Vega Pederson said in a statement Monday.
“I recently saw security footage from the Central Library capturing one angle of the incident and had a similar reaction to the one shared previously by my colleague Commissioner Shannon Singleton: There seems to be a serious discrepancy between the video I saw, reports from library and security staff, and how this incident was reported by PPB and subsequently some of the media. To date, what has been shared publicly appears to rush to judgment around a serious incident involving young Black people despite the existence of video footage and statements that are more complicated,” the Multnomah County Chair continued.
“The public deserves transparency. I’m calling on District Attorney Nathan Vasquez to release the security footage from the Central Library so everyone can have a better understanding of this incident,” Vega Pederson added. “A number of City Councilors have requested to see the video, and I believe the Mayor, Portland City Council, and Chief of Police all need to review this vantage point to better see for themselves the complexities behind what appeared to occur that day.”
KOIN 6 News has reached out to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. This story will be updated if we receive a response.
Vega Pederson’s statement on Monday comes after the County Chair was criticized by Metro Chamber President Andrew Hoan after the attack.
“The library should be a haven for the public, a beacon of learning, and one of Downtown Portland’s greatest attractions,” Hoan said. “Instead, under County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson’s watch, it has become a hotspot for violence and drug use that make employees and visitors unsafe and is a deterrent to vibrancy in the heart of the Rose City. Persistent inaction by the Chair has been a direct contributor to these tragic incidents and the conditions that have enabled them.”
“How many more people must be hurt or killed until the county takes decisive action?” Hoan questioned.
In early August, Multnomah County commissioners said they were working to improve security measures; however, updates to their plans aren’t expected until later in September.
Chair Vega Pederson previously shared a statement with KOIN 6 rebutting the Portland Metro Chamber’s claims that the county hasn’t been taking action.
“Central Library staff, security officers and the Portland Police acted decisively and collaboratively in their response to the incident this week,” Vega Pederson’s statement said. “Librarians cannot stop crime on city streets. But the County has taken several clear steps to increase safety inside our building. My top priority continues to be increasing safety for our community with our partners at the Portland Police Bureau.”
As of late August, Portland has seen a decline in violent crimes, including homicides, according to the national Midyear Violent Crimes Report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association. Among the 86 U.S. agencies in the report, Portland recorded the steepest drop in violent crime in the first half of 2025.
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Michaela Bourgeois
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