Three stabbed on MAX station by man shouting anti-Muslim, racist slurs; two have died

UPDATE: Mayor Ted Wheeler issues statement deploring attack and calling victims 'heroes.'Suspect spotted at right-wing march in April.

Two people were killed and one other wounded Friday afternoon in a stabbing on a MAX train at Northeast Portland's Hollywood Transit Center.

Jeremy Joseph Christian, 35, of North Portland, is charged with two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of second-degree intimidation and one count each of attempted aggravated murder and being a felon in possession of a restricted firearm. He was lodged into the Multnomah County Detention Center at 2:12 a.m. Saturday, without bail, and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.

He may face additional charges after the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office presents the case to a grand jury.

Names of the victims are expected to be released after the Oregon State medical examiner concludes autopsies on the two victims. Intimidation is a hate crime charge. The FBI says it is in touch with police to determine if any federal crime were committed.

According to police, the suspect was on the train shouting about hating Muslims and other minorities for several minutes before people confronted him. Police say he then attacked them.

"At the core of the FBI's mission is the belief that every person has the right to live, work and worship in this country without fear. Hate and bigotry have no place in our community, and we will not allow violence in the name of hate to go unanswered," says FBI spokesperson Beth Anne Steele.

One victim, a man, died at the scene. The other two victims were taken to a Portland hospital, where one was pronounced dead and the other was treated for injuries that are not expected to be life-threatening.

The incident occurred at around 4:30 p.m. May 26, on a MAX train as it pulled into the TriMet center near Northeast 42nd Avenue and Halsey Street. It was closed after the stabbing and TriMet was using shuttle buses to serve stations between Northeast Seventh Avenue and Southeast Main Street.

Spotted at right-wing march

Christian was spotted at a right-wing "March for Free Speech" about a month ago on Saturday, April 29. The march was organized when the annual 82nd Avenue of Roses parade was canceled following anonymous threats sent to the Multnomah County Republican party.

The parade ended in a Burger King parking lot, where Christian — wearing a 1776 American flag as a cape and a Wolverine hat — was asked to leave by police and marchers when he began shouting racial slurs and gave a Nazi salute.

He left the event when most others did following Portland Police providing TriMet buses back to Montavilla Park, where the event began. However, he didn't board the bus, and instead walked away.

Victim named on social media

Although officials haven't yet released the identities of the stabbing victims, a post was made on Facebook naming Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche as one of them.

A woman named Asha Deliverance, of Ashland, Oregon, made a public post on Facebook saying:

"Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche, My dear baby boy passed on yesterday while protecting two young Muslim girls from a racist man on the train in Portland. He was a hero and will remain a hero on the other side of the veil. Shining bright star I love you forever."

Meche reportedly graduated from Reed College in 2016, the Oregonian reported.

Mayor Ted Wheeler released the following statement on May 27 deploring the attack:

Two men lost their lives and another was injured for doing the right thing, standing up for people they didn't know against hatred. Their actions were brave and selfless, and should serve as an example and inspiration to us all. They are heroes.

"There is too much hatred in our world right now, and far too much violence. Too much of it has arrived here in Portland.

"My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives, and to those who witnessed what happened. Thank you to our first responders, who provided aid, and police who captured the suspected killer.

"Now is the time, we must come together as a community and love one another. We must reject hatred and violence. We must seek justice."

Reporter Lyndsey Hewitt and KOIN 6 News contributed to this story. KOIN 6 News is a news partner of the Portland Tribune.