In a shocking incident that unfolded in downtown Portland, Geoffrey E. Hammond, a well-known businessman, fatally shot a man during a road rage altercation and subsequently fired at a bystander who was capturing the incident on his phone.
The tragic event began when Hammond, owner of the financial firm Aequantium, parked his Mercedes Benz SUV in front of the Moxy Hotel on Southwest Alder, partially obstructing the flow of traffic. Ryan Martin, 47, pulled up behind Hammond's vehicle, attempting to persuade him to move. However, the situation escalated when the two exchanged heated words and gestures. Martin, deciding to confront Hammond, approached the SUV. Hammond, noticing Martin, began loading his firearm, even though he later admitted to officers that he could see Martin was unarmed.
Witnesses at the scene recounted the chilling moments that followed. As Martin tapped on the Mercedes' windows, Hammond allegedly rolled down the window and shot Martin in the chest. Despite being fatally wounded, Martin tried to plead with Hammond, uttering, "I'm sorry. I had a bad day." Hammond, however, allegedly attempted to fire a second shot, but the gun jammed.
Samuel Gomez, a Phoenix resident attending a conference at the Moxy Hotel, emerged from the building and stumbled upon the horrifying scene. He began recording the incident on his phone, capturing the moment when Hammond managed to unjam his gun and aimed it at him. Hammond fired two shots at Gomez, hitting him once in the leg. Another shot was fired as Hammond sped away from the scene, but it missed Gomez.
Gomez, speaking to The Oregonian, recounted the traumatic experience, saying, "Everything just changed. I'm just grateful that I'm alive because it could have been worse." He was rushed to the hospital in stable condition, while Martin was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a surprising turn of events, Hammond, after fleeing the crime scene, called 911 while driving to the county courthouse. He confessed to the dispatcher that he had shot the two men. Hammond justified his actions by claiming that Martin had menaced him and that he believed Gomez might have been armed and planning an ambush. However, witness accounts and video footage of the incident contradicted Hammond's claims, with no evidence suggesting that his use of deadly force was warranted.
Hammond now faces a slew of charges, including second-degree murder with a firearm, attempted second-degree murder with a firearm, first-degree assault with a firearm, and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon.
Further investigations revealed that Hammond had recently changed his name from Jeffrey Edward Mandalis. Under his previous identity, he had a criminal history in Illinois, with charges ranging from assault and vandalism to trespassing and domestic battery. Hammond, who currently resides in a $890,000 home in Portland's West Hills, had filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May 2023, owing approximately $34,000 in credit card debt. He had closed his company, Aequantium, which managed pooled funds investing in commodities futures and related securities.
