PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced that 32-year-old Cole Miller is charged with the attempted murder and assault of a person that happened last month in the Hazelwood neighborhood. As part of this investigation, law enforcement recovered multiple firearms, including five AR-15 rifles and a ghost gun.
Miller is charged with one count of attempted murder in the second degree with a firearm, one count of assault in the first degree with a firearm, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm with a firearm enhancement and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon with a firearm.
This investigation started when Portland Police responded to a shooting on February 1, 2021 in the 10500 block of East Burnside Street. When they arrived, they located a person shot inside a vehicle.
According to court documents, the shooting victim said, “in case I die, I want someone to know that it was Cole Miller who shot me.”
During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Miller and the shooting victim are known to each other and have been involved in a dispute.
The shooting victim told police at the hospital the bullet lodged near or in his spine and that doctors were unable to remove it.
Police continued their investigation into the attempted murder.
On March 10, 2021, Portland Police received information about a disturbance involving a firearm at a convenience store at Southeast 42nd Avenue and Southeast Woodstock Street. The store employee reported a disturbance involving someone who tried to microwave food inside the business, which is against their policy. During the incident, the suspect allegedly pointed a gun at the employee. A description of the vehicle and suspect were provided to Portland Police.
Hours later, Portland Police responded to the 3700 block of Southeast 42nd Avenue to conduct a welfare check involving a vehicle and suspicious activity involving the driver. When police arrived, they identified the vehicle as being the same car involved in the incident at the convenience store.
Police identified the driver of the car to be Miller, according to court documents.
Miller was later identified as the suspect in the convenience store disturbance.
During a search of Miller’s vehicle, police recovered five AR-15 rifles, a Glock 17 handgun, two Glock 43 handguns, a ghost-gun resembling a Glock 19 and a loaded .45 caliber handgun. Officers also located other gun paraphernalia, including a rifle scope.
According to court records, Miller is a convicted felon and therefore prohibited from being in possession of a firearm.
A charging document is only an accusation of a crime. Miller is innocent unless and until proven guilty.