New details released in robbery turned double homicide at North Portland dispensary

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- New details have emerged in the case of a man accused of murdering two during a botched dispensary robbery in St. Johns last week.

The shooting on Oct. 3 happened after an armed robbery of the La Mota dispensary by three people, officials said.

That night, responding officers found two people dead from gunshot wounds at the store. The victims were identified as 18-year-old King H. Lawrence and 20-year-old Tahir D. Burley.

Officers then found 34-year-old Jason Steiner nearby on the sidewalk, where he identified himself as shooter, as well as an employee of the store.

Documents from Steiner's first court appearance on Wednesday state that he had been working that night at the dispensary alone. He claimed three people pointed guns at him as he came out of the back room. Steiner then told them they could "take the store," and "fearing he would be killed," grabbed his bag out of the back room which contained his handgun.

The documents further state Steiner claimed they allowed him to leave the store. But after one of the robbery suspects reportedly asked another suspect "what does he have on him?" Steiner claimed he thought they were talking about him, so he loaded his gun and waited for the suspects to leave the store.

When no one came out, Steiner said he went to the drive-up window, soon after deciding it "was his chance," then fired into the building through the drive-up window.

Surveillance footage from the scene shows none of the suspects had firearms in their hands and had their backs turned to Steiner at the time the shots were fired.

Lawrence was hit first and immediately fell. Burley was hit multiple times, but able to move away from the window, attempting to draw his firearm before he stopped moving. The third suspect, who has not yet been identified, managed to run out the door and escape.

Once Steiner ran out of rounds, he called 911.

When asked by police why he did not just leave instead of coming back and shooting the robbery suspects, the documents say Steiner claimed he "is a large man who could not get away" if they had decided to come after him.

Additionally, he said his car keys were inside the store at the time he left and he was worried the suspects would take his car and "hunt him down."

Steiner is currently facing two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon.

According to Steiner’s attorney, they are now preparing to file a motion for self defense.