Two Juveniles Arrested in Fatal Shooting of Southeast Portland convenience Store Employee – KXL

PORTLAND, Ore. — Two juveniles have been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a Southeast Portland convenience store employee last month, Portland police said.

The suspects — a 12-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy — were arrested Wednesday in Vancouver, Washington, following an investigation into the Dec. 9 killing of 33-year-old Santi Ram Rai.

Officers responded that night to 3D’s Market on Southeast 139th Avenue, where they found Rai suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics were called, but Rai was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner later ruled his death a homicide caused by a gunshot wound.

Detectives with the Portland Police Bureau identified the two suspects through investigative leads and located them in Vancouver. With assistance from the Vancouver Police Department Major Crimes Unit and Clark County Regional SWAT, officers arrested the juveniles near Northeast 112th Avenue and Northeast 49th Street.

Both were transported to the Robert L. Harris Juvenile Justice Center in Vancouver.

The 12-year-old was booked on charges including first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The 15-year-old was booked on charges including second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, police said.

Authorities said both juveniles also face additional charges related to alleged criminal activity in the Vancouver area, including two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Rai was working at the convenience store at the time of the shooting. Police said he was well known in the community and often served as a translator for members of the Bhutanese community.

In a joint statement, Portland police Chief Bob Day, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Community Safety Director Stephanie Howard expressed condolences to Rai’s family and said the case highlights the ongoing impact of gun violence involving youth.

“This loss has profoundly impacted the Southeast Portland community,” the statement said. “The arrest of two juveniles, ages 12 and 15, in connection with this homicide is a sobering reminder of the devastating reach of gun violence and the urgent need for continued prevention and intervention.”

Rai is survived by his wife and two children.