In a surprising turn of events, a Portland, Oregon jury has acquitted Gary Edwards, 43, of second-degree assault charges stemming from a stabbing incident involving Gregory Howard Jr., 43. The jury’s decision came after it was revealed that Howard used a racial slur following the attack, raising questions about the context of the confrontation. The incident took place on July 7, and the jury reached their verdict on October 31.
Edwards admitted to stabbing Howard but claimed he acted in self-defense. He argued that the attack was provoked by Howard’s use of racial slurs. Both men are reported to be homeless and have extensive criminal records, which added complexity to the case. According to KPTV, video footage from transit cameras captured the moments leading up to the stabbing, showing Edwards approaching Howard, who was seated on a bench, with a fixed-blade knife in hand.
The video depicted Howard jumping up and pushing Edwards as they engaged in a brief scuffle against a wall. Edwards then stabbed Howard in the shoulder. Although the video lacked audio, Edwards’ defense attorney, Daniel Small, argued that his client was merely trying to negotiate a trade of his knife for cigarettes. This assertion was crucial in framing the incident as a misunderstanding rather than a premeditated attack.
Following the stabbing, police body camera footage revealed Howard calling Edwards the N-word, which became a focal point in the trial. Howard contended that he only used the slur after being attacked, while Edwards testified that the racial slur was uttered the moment Howard saw him. The prosecution, however, dismissed the relevance of Howard’s comments post-attack, suggesting that they did not justify Edwards’ actions.
Prosecutor Katherine Williams asserted that Edwards was in control throughout the altercation, stating, “The defendant is not scared for his life. He didn’t retreat; he sauntered up — and he sauntered away after he stabbed someone. The defendant created the situation.” This perspective aimed to portray Edwards as the aggressor rather than a victim reacting in self-defense.
Edwards’ criminal history includes a conviction for attempted second-degree assault in 2021 and a separate three-year prison sentence for a stabbing at a Portland light rail station in May 2020. Additionally, he was previously accused of fourth-degree assault, but that case was dismissed due to a lack of available public defenders. Howard, on the other hand, has a disturbing background that includes a felony conviction for child rape in 1997.
