On the evening of May 29, 2021, Freddy Nelson Jr., a 49-year-old male, was fatally shot while sitting in his truck in the parking lot of a Lowe's store in the Delta Park shopping center in North Portland, Oregon. His wife, Kari Nelson, was with him at the time of the incident, which occurred around 6:30 p.m. Nelson was a well-known figure at the shopping plaza, where he had an arrangement with the Lowe's store to collect unwanted wooden pallets.
The chain of events leading to the
shooting began when a private security guard, Logan Gimbel, 28, confronted Nelson in the parking lot. Gimbel, an employee of Cornerstone Security Group, a firm hired by the property management company TMT Development, used his vehicle to block Nelson's truck from leaving. An argument ensued, during which Gimbel reportedly told Nelson he was under arrest. Nelson and his wife locked themselves inside their truck. Gimbel then deployed pepper spray into the vehicle through a partially open window before firing four shots through the windshield, striking and killing Nelson.
The investigation that followed revealed significant issues with the security guard and his employer. It was discovered that Logan Gimbel was not certified to carry a firearm as an armed security professional in Oregon. The security firm, Cornerstone Security Group, was criticized for fostering a work environment that glorified violence and for employing uncertified guards. Court documents indicated there had been a pre-existing dispute between Nelson and Cornerstone security over his pallet-collecting activities on the property.
Logan Gimbel was arrested and charged in the death of Freddy Nelson Jr. He claimed he acted in self-defense, stating he believed Nelson was going to run him over. However, eyewitnesses disputed this account, testifying that Gimbel had stepped into the path of the vehicle and was never in danger. In May 2023, a jury rejected Gimbel's self-defense claim and convicted him of second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful use of mace. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
Following the criminal trial, Freddy Nelson Jr.'s family pursued a wrongful death lawsuit against Logan Gimbel, Cornerstone Security Group, and the property management company, TMT Development. The lawsuit alleged negligence and recklessness, arguing that the companies created the dangerous situation that led to Nelson's death. In October 2024, a jury awarded the Nelson family over $21 million in damages, finding TMT Development and Cornerstone Security largely liable for the fatal shooting.
