(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A jury has found a man guilty of murdering 19-year-old Larnell Bruce Jr. by intentionally driving onto a sidewalk and hitting him in the Portland suburb of Gresham in 2016.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the jury also found Russell Courtier guilty Tuesday of the hate crime of second-degree intimidation after the prosecution argued the 40-year-old was motivated by white supremacist beliefs in killing Bruce. Courtier additionally was found guilty of hit-and-run driving.
As Multnomah County Circuit Judge Jerry Hodson read the verdict, members of Bruce’s family breathed deeply as tears filled their eyes.
The jury deliberated for just over a day after an eight-day trial.
Authorities say Courtier and Colleen Hunt were in a Jeep driven by Courtier and that he, with encouragement from Hunt, drove into Bruce following a fight with him at a convenience store.
Hunt has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.