Portland Jury Acquits Man in Stabbing Case

A jury in Portland, Oregon, cleared a black man of assault charges connected to the stabbing of a white man. The decision came after it was disclosed that the victim had used a racial slur following the incident.

Gary Edwards, aged 43, was acquitted of second-degree assault on July 7 after he stabbed Gregory Howard Jr., also 43. Reports indicate that Edwards acknowledged the stabbing but insisted he acted out of self-defense, citing Howard’s use of the N-word.

Both men are homeless and have lengthy criminal histories.

Surveillance footage captured Edwards as he approached Howard, who was seated on a bench, brandishing a fixed-blade knife.

In a heated exchange, Howard reportedly jumped up, shoving Edwards, which led to a scuffle ending with Edwards stabbing Howard in the shoulder. Interestingly, there’s no audio on the footage, but Edwards’ lawyer stated that he was attempting to trade a knife for a cigarette when the confrontation escalated.

After the stabbing, police body camera recordings revealed Howard calling Edwards the N-word as officers intervened.

Howard maintains that he only used the term after he was stabbed. However, Edwards claimed that the racial slur was uttered the moment Howard spotted him.

In a poignant remark, Edwards’ attorney, Daniel Small, questioned, “What, other than racism, can explain why Mr. Howard perceived hatred, hostility and aggression from others?”

On the other hand, prosecutors contended that Howard’s comment after the attack was irrelevant to the case. They asserted that Edwards had control of the situation at all times. Prosecutor Catherine Williams stated, “The defendant did not feel that his life was in danger. He did not retreat; he staggered to his feet and, after stabbing someone, he staggered away. The defendant created the situation.”

Edwards, who was acquitted on October 31, had previous convictions including attempted second-degree assault in 2021 and a three-year prison sentence in May 2020 for a separate stabbing incident. He also faced charges of fourth-degree assault related to a dispute with a store employee, but that case was dismissed in June due to a lack of public defenders.

Howard, similarly, has an extensive criminal record, which includes a 1997 conviction for felony rape of a child in Kitsap County, Washington.