Grand jury finds Portland officer's use of force justified in deadly apartment shooting

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A Multnomah County grand jury has ruled a Portland police officer was justified when he shot and killed a man involved in a shots fired incident at a downtown Portland apartment building back in January.

The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday that the grand jury returned a "not true" bill, finding Officer Joshua Howery's use of force resulting in the death of Matthew Lee Holland not criminal under Oregon law.

According to Portland police, Howery, a 23-year veteran of the bureau and member of the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT), shot and killed Holland while responding with PPB, SERT and the Crisis Negotiation Team to the report of shots fired on the 8th floor of the Portland Astoria on January 14, at the height of the arctic blast and ice storm that crippled the region.

Around two hours after the initial 911 calls, a neighbor reported bullets piercing their walls, prompting Howery to use “deadly force,” according to PPB.

Officers say found an AR-15 style rifle lying next to Holland.

No other injuries were reported, police said.

Howery had been placed on administrative leave following the shooting, per standard protocol, officials said.