A judge denied Ian Cranston the option of bail, and he’ll remain in jail until his trial in November, when he faces second-degree murder, first- and second-degree manslaughter and a handful of lesser charges over the September 19, 2021, shooting of Barry Washington Jr. outside of The Capitol, a bar in downtown Bend.
Judge Beth Bagley ruled that there’s strong evidence Cranston committed murder and was therefore ineligible for pretrial release, but noted that the burden of proof during a trial would be higher. Prosecutors will have to prove that Cranston had a “conscious objective” to kill Washington.
“This is a hearing to address release and potential release conditions for the defendant, Mr. Cranston, it is not a trial and the standard that would apply in a criminal trial does not apply here,” Bagley said before delivering her ruling. “In order for Mr. Cranston to be found guilty of any or all of these offenses, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt each and every element of those offenses.”
Prosecutors argued that Cranston used a disproportionate amount of force, and that Washington didn’t pose a threat to Cranston’s life, while defense attorney Kevin Sali alleged Washington’s size and aggressive actions caused Cranston legitimate fear for his life. Sali presented video footage from the restaurant Wild Rose, a City of Bend camera and footage Allsion Butler, Cranston’s fiancée, took from the encounter. It’s the first time video, save Butler’s footage, was shown in public.
Washington’s mother, Lawanda Roberson, spoke before Bagley ruled, saying Washington wouldn’t hit someone without provocation, and that everything known about the argument leading to the shooting comes from witnesses close to Cranston. She also said she believed the shooting was racially motivated, charges District Attorney John Hummel pursued but could not prove.
“Race set aside, people in this community will have to decide whether shooting and killing an unarmed man who punched you is justified,” she said.
This article appears in Source Weekly February 3, 2022.
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As it should be denied. He belongs in jail for killing this man. The justice system is working. My thoughts are with Barry Washington, his family and his friends.
I think we all can agree that his bailed needed to be denied,
What I have a problem with, is these people treating this like its a George Floyd thing because it was a white man that shot a black man, justice is doing their job!!
let’s keep the race baiting out of it, And the BLM Organization is a fraud, all lives matter!!
My God, I could see this happening in south-central LA, This is Bend, we have a lot of race baiting liberals that have nothing else better to do!
Let the justice system do their job without without making it a race issue!!
What is horrible is the situation was for both men, One ended up dead,
I read the story and I dont agree Cranston needed to shoot anybody, he should not have been carrying a firearm In downtown Bend, but after too much alcohol, and after Washington came onto Cranstons girlfriend multiple times, and wouldnt take NO for an answer, Cranston shouldve just knocked him out, and we wouldnt be having this problem now, But its not really a problem, justice is being served as we speak, but liberal race baiters, Who keep trying to stir up there is all this mass racism in Bend, LMAO!! which is absolute BS!!! are making it a problem by turning this into a race thing, when it was an alcohol induced, jealousy thing!!!
Washington is not the first man in American history that ended up dead in a bar fight.
God bless his family, stop making it about race, this was a tragedy, and 2 men have lost their lives over a drunken brawl and shooting.
Instead of crying and protesting and making a mountain out of a mole hill, why dont you liberals go fill the job positions that are open in Bend, We have too many Young idle hands with too much time on their hands living in a place that only exists in their minds,
Or what they have been told over and over, its like theyre brainwashed.
He shouldn’t have been carrying his gun when he new he was going to be going to a bar, that’s the rule. Alcohol and guns don’t mix. When he got his concealed weapons license that he signed that was stated don’t carry your gun when you drink alcohol. I know it was on mine when I got mine. He knew better. Now he should pay. Color shouldn’t even factor into this.He knew the laws. very sad.