In the early morning hours of October 14, 2019, Ricky Malone Sr., a 65-year-old Black / African American man, was going about his routine of collecting bottles and cans in his North Portland neighborhood. A beloved father and grandfather known for his quiet and good nature, he was a familiar and friendly face in the community. Malone, who also worked with youth as a basketball official, had plans to meet a family member at a redemption center later that morning.
His peaceful routine was tragically cut short when he was found severely wounded near the 10200 block of North Mohawk Avenue. Despite efforts to save him, Malone succumbed to a single shotgun blast to his chest.
The investigation into his death quickly revealed that it was not an isolated act of violence but the culmination of a crime spree perpetrated by three teenagers. The suspects, later identified as 15-year-olds Aaron Criswell and Richard Jerome Rand IV, along with an unnamed 14-year-old, had allegedly begun their morning with a home invasion robbery. Armed with a shotgun and wearing masks, including a clown mask worn by Rand, they were scared off from the initial targeted home when the homeowner confronted them. While fleeing, they encountered Malone in his idling car. The teenagers demanded his vehicle, and when Malone refused, Criswell allegedly shot him at close range.
Following the shooting, the teenagers stole Malone's car, leading police on a chase that resulted in a series of hit-and-runs before the vehicle was found crashed and abandoned. The driver's side of the car was covered in a significant amount of blood. A crucial piece of evidence, a fast-food receipt found inside the car, led investigators to surveillance footage from a drive-thru. The video showed the 14-year-old suspect driving Malone's car hours after the murder, wearing a distinctive shirt that was later found at his parents' home.
The three teenagers were arrested on October 22, 2019. Criswell and Rand were charged as adults with first-degree murder, second-degree murder with a firearm, first-degree robbery with a firearm, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle with a firearm, and first-degree burglary with a firearm. The 14-year-old also faced a murder charge but was not identified publicly due to his age. During a court appearance, two of the teens became emotional, while one showed little reaction, prompting an outburst from Malone's grieving family members. A judge ordered all three to remain in juvenile detention. The community was left to mourn a man described by his brother as a "quiet, good type of brother" who was loved by children and would be deeply missed.
