PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - A Multnomah County jury on Thursday convicted Wyatt Storm Belcher of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon after he shot-and-killed Ash Marie Smith during a drum circle event in Portland more than two years ago.
Belcher, 28, was arrested shortly after the May 8, 2022, shooting near the Eastbank Esplanade parking lot where witnesses said Smith was shot as a large gathering of people began to break up. Police responding to the scene found Smith on the ground and quickly found Belcher nearby. He matched witness descriptions and had a .40 caliber handgun holstered in his waistband, according to authorities.
Deputy District Attorney Devin Franklin prosecuted the case. After the verdict, Franklin praised the bravery of three eyewitnesses during the trial.