Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced that Joseph Michael Conn, 49, has pled guilty to four charges including two counts of Attempted Murder in the First Degree, one count of Attempted Robbery in the First Degree with a Firearm and one count of Recklessly Endangering Another Person. The plea agreement contains a 12.5-year prison sentence.
In April 2022, a private security guard working at the Troutdale Outlet Mall confronted two women who had stolen multiple pairs of shoes from Rack Room Shoes. During the confrontation, Conn appeared and pointed a gun at the security guard. After the guard backed away, Conn and the two women drove away from the mall with the stolen merchandise. Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle did not stop and proceeded onto the freeway. MCSO deputies pursued the vehicle, deploying spike strips at one point. Despite the tires being spiked, the vehicle continued off the freeway onto NE Sandy Boulevard.
Pursuing deputies then heard an initial round of gunshots fired. They saw Conn point a gun out of the rear driver’s side window and fire more shots. One of the rounds struck the front grill of the pursuing MCSO vehicle. Another bullet hit a civilian’s vehicle during the course of the pursuit. None of the rounds fired hit anyone. The vehicle that Conn was in crashed and Conn and the two women attempted to flee the crash scene on foot. Deputies apprehended Conn and one of the females. Deputies found the gun Conn used next to the crashed vehicle.
Sentencing is currently scheduled for January 6, 2023.
