Ernesto Castellanos, a 57-year-old man from Portland, was killed late on Friday, March 27, 2026, while working as a clerk at the Plaid Pantry in the Cully neighborhood of Northeast Portland. Police were called to the store at 6060 Northeast Columbia Boulevard at about 11:48 p.m. after a report of an unconscious person. When officers arrived, they found Castellanos behind the counter, already dead from what appeared to be a gunshot wound.
The medical examiner later ruled his death a homicide caused by gunfire.
The night began like an ordinary late shift inside the small convenience store, but investigators later said surveillance footage showed a customer entering, moving around the store, getting a drink from the self-service beverage area, and waiting at the checkout counter. According to court documents described by local reporting, the man lingered near the counter with a Plaid Pantry cup before the encounter turned deadly. Prosecutors said the suspect pointed a gun at Castellanos and demanded money from the register. When Castellanos hesitated or appeared not to take the threat seriously, the suspect shot him twice. The shots struck Castellanos in the chest and neck, and authorities said either wound would have been fatal.
After the shooting, investigators said the suspect went behind the counter, touched the register screen and drawer, handled the coin machine, and took the small amount of money inside. Court documents said the robbery netted only $25. Surveillance footage also reportedly showed the suspect kicking Castellanos and touching him near the shoulder before leaving the store. When police arrived, a shopper was trying to perform CPR, but Castellanos died at the scene. He had been working at the store when he was killed, and Plaid Pantry later described his death as a senseless act of violence that devastated his loved ones and coworkers.
In the hours after the killing, Portland police released photos and video of the suspect and asked the public for help identifying him. Police initially described the person they were seeking as a white male in his 20s or 30s, about 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, wearing a black knit beanie, a black sweatshirt with a design on the front, blue jeans, and black shoes. Investigators warned that he was believed to be armed and dangerous. Plaid Pantry also offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s identification and arrest.
The public search moved quickly. On Monday night, March 30, 2026, the suspect turned himself in to Portland police. Authorities identified him as Michale J. Paine, 21, of Portland. Police said he was taken to the Multnomah County Detention Center, and detectives recovered the firearm they believed was used in the killing. Castellanos’ family was notified after the arrest.
According to prosecutors and court documents, Paine allegedly admitted key parts of what happened after he surrendered. He reportedly told police he had been drunk and high on marijuana at the time of the shooting. He also allegedly remarked that the crime was “not worth” the $25 taken from the till and acknowledged that what he had done was wrong. Investigators said Paine remembered the incident in detail and directed police to items connected to the crime, including the gun, ammunition, sunglasses, and clothing he had been wearing.
Paine was booked on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and unlawful use of a weapon. He appeared in Multnomah County court on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, where he pleaded not guilty. Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez described the killing as especially heartbreaking because of how little money was involved and said Castellanos did nothing to cause or escalate the encounter. As of the available reports, Paine remained the identified suspect in the case, with the prosecution moving forward on the murder and robbery charges.
