Joshua Newell, a 41-year-old White man, was killed on October 1, 2021, during a robbery inside a townhome in Southeast Portland. Officers from the Portland Police Bureau were called to the residence in the Mill Park neighborhood, near Southeast 128th Avenue and Stark Street, shortly after 6:00 a.m. for a report of a shooting. They arrived to find Mr. Newell deceased at the scene.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office later conducted an autopsy, confirming he died from a gunshot wound and ruling his death a homicide.
Homicide detectives began an investigation that quickly led them to identify a person of interest. They named 42-year-old Matthew Clement of Portland as a suspect and distributed his information to patrol officers. About a week later, on the morning of October 7, two East Precinct officers spotted Clement driving a black BMW near Southeast Woodstock Boulevard and 84th Avenue. When they attempted a traffic stop, Clement sped away, initiating a pursuit that continued onto southbound Interstate 205. The chase was taken over by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, and deputies successfully stopped the car and arrested Clement.
As the investigation continued, authorities identified a second suspect, Christian D. Fitz-Henry. According to prosecutors, Fitz-Henry had used a 9-millimeter gun to rob Joshua Newell on the day he was killed. While police were searching for him in connection with the homicide and robbery, they located him on November 13, 2021. Fitz-Henry was a passenger in a stolen car, and when officers tried to stop the vehicle, he fired at them. He was taken into custody following this confrontation.
Matthew Clement was initially booked on several charges, including Murder in the First Degree and Robbery in the First Degree. He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting. In August 2023, Clement was sentenced to 19 years in prison. Christian D. Fitz-Henry was also prosecuted for his role in the incident. He was charged with murder and robbery. A Multnomah County jury ultimately acquitted Fitz-Henry of murder but found him guilty of Robbery in the First Degree.
With the conviction of one man for robbery and the sentencing of another for manslaughter, the legal proceedings in the death of Joshua Newell concluded in August 2023.
