In the early hours of a Wednesday morning in Northeast Portland, the life of Justin Michael Stewart, a 30-year-old male, was tragically cut short. On June 19, 2019, Stewart was fatally shot in an incident that would be described as a devastating accident between lifelong friends.
That evening, Stewart had been out for drinks with his best friend and co-worker, Tyler Pierce. As they were walking back from the bars near Northeast Sandy Boulevard and Prescott, Pierce was reportedly playing with a handgun. Believing the firearm to be unloaded, he pointed it at Stewart in a joking manner and pulled the trigger. A single shot was fired, striking Stewart in the neck.
It was Pierce who immediately called 911 for help and remained by his friend's side until emergency services arrived. Despite these efforts, Justin Michael Stewart succumbed to his injuries. The aftermath of the shooting left two families in mourning, grappling with the loss and the shocking circumstances that led to it.
Tyler Pierce was arrested and subsequently charged with manslaughter, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm in public, and unlawful possession of a firearm. The tragic event was characterized not as a malicious act, but as the result of reckless decisions that ended a life and forever changed another.
