Officials say 27-year-old Ian Cranston shot and killed 22-year-old Barry Washington Jr. outside of The Capitol, a nightclub in downtown Bend early Sunday morning.
Washington had moved to Bend a little over a month ago from the San Francisco Bay area. A memorial was erected by family and friends on the downtown Bend sidewalk where he was shot.
“Barry was just a big teddy bear,” Washington’s aunt, Valencia Roberson, told KTVZ. “He’s a protector of everyone. Just fun-loving, trying to get away from drama and follow up with his music career.”
Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said the incident started earlier in the night when Washington complimented Cranston’s girlfriend in the bar. The woman politely turned him away, saying she was flattered but in a relationship.
After midnight, outside the bar, Washington approached the woman again and complimented her. Hummel said Washington may not have recognized he was talking to the same woman, and that he was respectful during both occasions.
“There’s no evidence that what Mr. Washington did when he approached the woman was inappropriate,” Hummel told KTVZ. “There’s not an allegation that he groped her, grabbed her, was crass with her. He complimented her in a respectful manner. She was fine back. She said, ‘No, thank you. I’m flattered but I’m in a relationship.’ No allegation that anything Mr. Washington did was inappropriate.”
Cranston began arguing with Washington, and they began scuffling with each other, officials described. Eventually their friends stepped in and started fighting as well. Washington was reportedly fighting with Cranston’s friend when Cranston allegedly shot him.
“He said some words to Mr. Washington. Mr. Washington said some words back,” Hummel said. “There was some pushing, some jostling, some punches thrown, but then it calmed down. It was not going to get out of hand. Then Mr. Cranston pulled a gun out of his waistband and shot and killed Mr. Washington.”
Washington was given aid before being taken to St. Charles Hospital where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room. Cranston was charged with second-degree manslaughter Sunday morning, and was released after posting 10% of his $100,000 bail later in the day.
“On the weekend, there’s no court hearings, there’s no adversarial process, I’m not there, the suspect’s attorney’s not there,” Hummel told Central Oregon Daily News. “So the judge has given the jail deputies a bail schedule, and Mr. Cranston paid the bail schedule amount for the charge he was arrested for and that’s why he was released. He was treated the same as any other person would be in his situation.”
Hummel said that manslaughter charges were filed because Washington and Cranston didn’t know each other, it was not planned in advance and that the shots were fired during a chaotic situation. Though Cranston was drinking, Hunnel said blood-alcohol levels taken don’t indicate he was significantly impaired. Cranston had a concealed carry permit, and works for Nosler, an ammunition manufacturer based in Bend. A Nosler spokesperson told KTVZ that Cranston was suspended while the investigation takes place.
It’s unlikely that Cranston will be able to claim self-defense, according to Hummel.
“You’re allowed to use non-deadly physical force at a pretty low bar. If someone comes up and shoves you and pushes you, you can shove and push them back, and that’s not a crime…but if you’re going to kill someone, there’s a much higher standard that Oregon law sets, which it should,” Hummel told Central Oregon Daily News. “You can only use deadly physical force if you or someone else is about to be killed or about to be seriously physically injured. There is no allegation here that Mr. Washington was trying to kill anyone, or trying to seriously physically injure anyone.”
A Deschutes County Grand Jury will have the final say on what charges will be brought against Cranston. Cranston’s first court date is scheduled for October 5.
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As the mother of two biracial children, I have a lot of feelings on this. By far the most overwhelming is shame. This is not a place I want to raise my children and there are a lot of people in this area who should probably take a long, hard look at what ideals they support.
The assailant worked at an ammunition company. A place where guns are even more normalized than in general society; which is already off the charts, compared with most other countries. The gun wielder perhaps habitually stuck his piece into his waistband when heading out anywhere. People with such a casual attitude about these devices, whose only purpose is to maim and kill, are walking time bombs. Now if/when he stands trial (as Hummel alludes, he is the perfect flight risk), he will reap the consequences of a life that celebrates packing as a way of life. A way of life that all too often gets sidelined by the deaths of innocent people.
I doubt that American culture will ever get beyond this deep-set insanity.
Murdering gunslingers get out on bail on the weekend in Bend? Wow. When was this policy made and how soon can it be changed?
Two vigils for Barry Washington have been announced by local organizations for 9/22 and 9/23–both at 6:30 PM at Wall and Greenwood (the Peace Corner). Bring candles, flowers, and signs. Please wear a mask. #JusticeForBarry.
I have to say this after read the last two comments. First, anyone who knows anything about guns does not stick a firearm in his waistband on his way out the door and race has absolutely nothing to do with this altercation at all. this is about young hot tempers and the fact that in this state is is perfectly legal to carry a firearm and no one thinks anything of it, especially while drinking. My kids have gone out to Bend and been to clubs and bars and have seen fights between young men almost every time they have gone. its ridiculous. My friends young daughter was even hit by a drunk man because she would give him her number. This is a violent place to be when alcohol is involved, mix in a gun and people will get killed, welcome to the wild west.
To Stephanie — You’ve determined, ruled and declared “race has absolutely nothing to do with this altercation at all.” So you witnessed the event? So you knew the people involved and their character, motives, history? Pull back the declaration unless you can say yes, unequivocally, to both questions.
You could have made your statement, however obvious and superfluous, regarding youth, alcohol, late nights without the declaration.
“My friends young daughter was even hit by a drunk man because she would give him her number.” Seriously? Or was that a slip of the keyboarding skills.
This is COMPLETELY INSANE… We need JUSTICE FOR BARRY WASHINGTON!!! The MURDERER needs to be held accountable for taking someone’s life. MURDER not Manslaughter!!!! PLEASE make an example out of this MURDERER FOR SUCH A HATE CRIME. JUSTICE FOR BARRY WASHINGTON!!!!!
Why is race even part of the conversation? The simple fact that the two people involved were not of the same race isn’t evidence of a hate crime. Enough with the devisive comments, please.
Cranston can rot in jail the rest of his life
Cranston should spend the rest of his life in prison. What an absolute waste of a human.
Posted a 10k bail and is roaming the streets? What a messed up law.
So I can say this now and all say and I know it has to do with race how blind are u people saying it was between two people are u living in a real world or fantasy cause I have been out to plenty of bars with all different situations okay and it is so sad that you think that it has nothing to do with race you think this guy got so made because the young man said something to his women and than they fought because of that, we live in a racially charged world plus I know the guy personally is racist and if we don’t step out of it soon I fear what will happen, I have never been so scared in my life and white black asian transgender gay Hispanic just different is a problem in America right now and everyone racist or not is feeling it and it is gotten unhinged, when I was 20 years ago you just didn’t deal with what u did t like and know one talked about it and know one cared and you kept your politics and who you loved and everything to only those you new you could tell. It was so much more simple and to me it gave people a chance to know one another and to care for one another that sometimes those who hated learned to love and those who loved learned from those that hated and we don’t set All of this side and remember where we came from and that we all are together and that love will lead the way not opinions and arguments and riots and hate groups and love groups and quit grouping quit thinking quit fighting and start to care and look past all that makes you look find what will set us all free and that is kindness. Please I [ray for all and love all and if someone looks like they need a hello or told it’s going to get better do it, god help us all god healnis all god see us through it all and make us all one again. When my daughter now who is 22 goes out they get do;Lowes and jumped and all kinds of stuff because her friends and her just left a gay club it is scarry. She was on Portland when the young lady was killed and it was hate two the following weekend two gay guys where shoot it is not okay and I am telling you 9 out of 19nshooting going on are all to do with hate not gang not even just crazy HATE go back and look at those Shot and killed and you will soon see that Americans have forgot that we are all Americans and Oregonians have forgot that we except all and the different and we are all who we are just live please stop the hate stop the letting of a white man that works for an aminition place be set out on a 10k bail, of you where black a women or anything different than what that man was you would not of been let out we must fight for that that should not of happen, this poor boy will never get to get married never have children never love never know a community that excepts him so this must not happen
DA Hummel simply cannot stop himself from commenting in public about things DAs – competent DAs – simply don’t comment on.
He’s essentially trying the case in the public venue where Grand Jury members, as well as potential jurors, can be biased by his observations. And that sets up Change of Venue challenges for the suspect as well as grounds for an appeal if found guilty of any charge.
Pandering / grandstanding is what his “fluff” commentary is.
As for Oregon’s Use of Deadly Force this is the law –
ORS 161.219
Limitations on use of deadly physical force in defense of a person
TEXT
ANNOTATIONS 14
Notwithstanding the provisions of ORS 161.209 (Use of physical force in defense of a person), a person is not justified in using deadly physical force upon another person unless the person reasonably believes that the other person is:
(1)Committing or attempting to commit a felony involving the use or threatened imminent use of physical force against a person; or
(2)Committing or attempting to commit a burglary in a dwelling; or
(3)Using or about to use unlawful deadly physical force against a person. [1971 c.743 §23]
The key is the phrase “…the person reasonable believes that the other person is…”. That is for a jury to decide upon hearing the case – not for a DA to postulate on for the local media.
In addition, Mr. Hummel is not a Drug and Alcohol trained and certified expert so his pontificating as to what degree of ETOH present – not to mention any other drugs, prescribed or illegal being present (if tested for) – is absurd. A .08 BAC is legally too drunk to be driving (or riding a bicycle). It stands to reason if the suspect had a .08 BAC level at the time of the incident…he was too drunk to be carrying, much less using a firearm for any reason.
In addition, the DA offered early on the suspect has no criminal record. However, a basic public records check shows a conviction for possession / sale of a Schedule 1 drug (MDMA) about six years ago now in Benton County. If the DA can’t get that one right…
It would truly service Justice well if DA Hummel would please zip it. His two deputy DAs are the experienced homicide lawyers anyhow – and one of them will likely try the case unless a plea deal is reached.
Just say’in.