A man who was yelling 'anti-Muslim' slurs at two young women on a light-rail train stabbed two men to death and injured a third person when they tried to intervene. Photo / Facebook
A man who was yelling 'anti-Muslim' slurs at two young women on a light-rail train stabbed two men to death and injured a third person when they tried to intervene. Photo / Facebook
A Portland man known for hate speech is in custody in connection with the stabbings on a light-rail train that left two people dead and another injured after they tried to intervene as the suspect launched "anti-Muslim" slurs at two young women on Friday night.
Jeremy Joseph Christian, 35, has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of second-degree intimidation and one count each of aggravated murder and being a felon in possession of a restricted firearm, reported KOIN 6.
One of the two victims has been identified by his mother as Taliesin Myrddin in a touching tribute posted to Facebook, the Daily Mail reported.
Asha Deliverance wrote: '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."
One of the two victims has been identified by his mother as Taliesin Myrddin in a touching tribute posted to Facebook. Photo / Facebook
Christian is known for hate-speech, and is a self-identified white supremacist who was pictured on April 29, referring to himself as the "Lizard King" and giving Nazi salutes at a free speech rally, with an American Revolutionary War flag tied like a cape around his shoulders.
He walked among fellow protesters holding American flags and signs that said 'Trump Makes America Great Again.'
Christian's Facebook site paints disturbing a picture of the suspect, and he describes himself by saying: "I'm an Ex-Con. I Like Comix, Cannabis and Metal-In Any Combination.
The suspect has been in jail previously for a string of charges including robbery, kidnapping and unlawful use of a weapon, and he brags about being an ex-con on his Facebook page.
He has posted on his profile a number of times to say he supports the Nazis, and once even said he wants a job in Norway "cutting off the heads of people that Circumcize (sic) Babies."
Additionally, Christian has threatened to "stab some masked up b****** protesting Black Metal shows as soon as they touch me," in a comment thread on his Facebook profile.
The accused is also a white supremacist who was pictured giving Nazi salutes at a free speech rally in April. Photo / Facebook
On May 9, Christian wrote about a debate he challenged someone to: "I will defend the Nazis and he will the defend the AshkeNAZIs."
Before attending the April 29 rally where he was caught on camera giving the Nazi salute, Christian wrote: "You should all attend the Free Speech Rally at Montanavilla if you value your rights. All Rights, I don't care if you like Antifa or Hate them. They are just an excuse for a showdown.
"I hope the Police Stand Down as in Berkeley. I will be there Demasking anyone with a mask. I will attend in Lizard King Regalia as a Political Nihilist to Provoke both Sides and attempt to engage anyone in a true Philosophy and Political Discussion.
"If you attended masked up and that mask comes off and I see a friend who sided with ANTIFA it will be merciless. Free speech or die!!! This is my land!!!"
Before attending a free speech rally, Christian wrote: "If you attended masked up and that mask comes off and I see a friend who sided with ANTIFA it will be merciless. Free speech or die!!! This is my land!!!" Photo / Facebook
He also referred to President Trump the 'antichrist,' but in a way that turned it into a compliment.
"If Donald Trump is the Next Hitler then I am joining his SS to put and end to Monotheist Question. All Zionist Jews, All Christians who do not follow Christ's teaching of Love, Charity, and Forgiveness And All Jihadi Muslims are going to Madagascar or the Ovens/FEMA Camps!!! Does this make me a fascist!!!"
Christian was arrested after he ran off the train at the Hollywood transit station in Portland, Oregon, the Oregonian reported.
The attacker was "yelling a gamut of anti-Muslim and anti-everything slurs" before he turned his focus on the women, one of whom was wearing a hijab, police Sgt. Pete Simpson said.
He is being held without bail in the Multnomah County Detention Center, and will appear in court on Tuesday, according to KOIN.
After the suspect attacked the victims, he reportedly said, "This is free America, I can do whatever I want" one witness told KOMO news.
One victim was dead at the scene and while another died at a hospital, Simpson said. The third person was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The attack happened on a MAX train as it headed east on Friday around 4.30pm, and since then has triggered calls for President Donald Trump to speak out against Racism, according to the Telegraph.
The attacker was 'yelling a gamut of anti-Muslim and anti-everything slurs' before he turned his focus on the women. Photo / KATU
The Council on American-Islamic Relations national executive director Nihad Awad said: "President Trump must speak out personally against he rising tide of Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry and racism in our nation.
"Only a strong statement from the nation's leader will send a message to bigots that such acts of violence targeting racial, ethnic or religious minorities are unacceptable."
Evelin Hernandez, a 38-year-old resident of Clackamas, Oregon, said she was on the train when the man began making racist remarks to the women.
"[He] said, 'Get off the bus, and get out of the country because you don't pay taxes here.'
"[He said he] doesn't like Muslims, they're criminals," Evelin Hernandez told KATU.
When the two men stepped in and tried to protect other passengers on the train, the suspect slashed their throats, Simpson told the news channel.
It wasn't clear why the man was yelling, but the Portland Police department characterized the rant as "hate speech toward a variety of ethnicities and religions".
"He was talking about a lot of different things, not just specifically anti-Muslim," Simpson said.
After the stabbings, the suspect said he was free to do what he wanted in America, witnesses said. He also reportedly said he was getting off at the next stop and no one should follow him, KOIN reported.
Police don't know if Christian has mental health issues or whether was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time.
Simpson said the women understandably left the scene before police arrived, adding that authorities hoped to track them down to help fill in what happened.
The two women were described by police as "possibly Muslim", although Simpson said: "We have not been able to find those girls to verify that."
"It's horrific," Simpson said. "There's no other word to describe what happened today."
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley wrote on Twitter: "Terrible tragedy on Portland's Max Train. Champions of justice risked and lost their lives. Hate is evil."
Portland's Commissioner Chloe Eudaly issued a statement saying: "This is an especially sad and disturbing incident. People lost their lives or were injured because they stood up to hate.
"We need to offer our heartfelt support to the two women and others who were targeted.
"The courage of the people who stood up for them is a reminder that we as a city need to stand together to denounce hate."
The FBI also offered their assistance in the investigation, saying: "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."
Millions of Muslims marked the start of Ramadan on Friday, a time of intense prayer, dawn-to-dusk fasting and nightly feasts.
"Our thoughts are with the Muslim community," Simpson said. "As something like this happens, this only instills fear in that community.
"We have already reached out previous to this incident to our Muslim community partners and the different imams about extra patrol during Ramadan. We want to reassure them that that will continue."
MAX trains were halted for several hours after the incident, and an investigation is ongoing.
