Bennett Miller, 25, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 32 years on Friday for the fatal shooting of two men in Northeast Portland in June 2023. The incident, which was determined to be a case of mistaken identity, claimed the lives of Fortressen Oriakhi, 29, and Isidahomen Ikhuoria, 25.
According to a memorandum filed by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office, the tragic events unfolded on the night of June 23, 2023, when Oriakhi and Ikhuoria were out late, enjoying karaoke at a local bar. Miller, who was dealing cocaine nearby, spotted the pair as they left the bar and mistook them for two individuals with whom he had a prior conflict.
In the memorandum, investigators revealed that Miller followed the victims’ car for several minutes before pulling alongside and firing 10 shots into the vehicle. The victims were later found with gunshot wounds in a crashed car in the Hollywood District after police responded to reports of gunfire in the area.
Fortressen Oriakhi was pronounced dead at the scene, while Isidahomen Ikhuoria succumbed to his injuries a week later in the hospital. The senseless nature of the crime has left the community in shock and mourning.
Detectives later interviewed a friend of Miller’s who recounted a conversation in which Miller admitted to the shooting, expressing that he had mistaken Oriakhi and Ikhuoria for the individuals he intended to target. The friend’s testimony played a crucial role in the investigation.
Following the shooting, Miller fled the scene and narrowly avoided capture by police. Officers attempted to pursue him but lost track of his vehicle in a nearby residential neighborhood. He was eventually apprehended and charged with two counts of murder.
During the sentencing hearing, the court emphasized the gravity of the crime and the irreversible impact it had on the victims’ families and the community. Miller was transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to serve the remainder of his sentence following the hearing.
