Authorities say the victim was shot nine times while walking away.
PORTLAND, Ore. — A Portland man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after admitting he shot a stranger nine times in the back during a brief confrontation outside an apartment building in 2024, authorities said.
Prosecutors said the shooting followed a short dispute between two men who had never met before. The encounter escalated quickly and ended in gunfire after one man slapped the other and began walking away. The victim, 45-year-old Jacob Forrest, died at the scene. The shooter, 27-year-old Cresencio Flores, later pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.
Investigators said the confrontation unfolded July 28, 2024, outside a Portland apartment complex. Flores was outside socializing with friends when Forrest arrived in a vehicle with several other people. Surveillance footage reviewed by detectives showed Forrest getting out of the car with what appeared to be a handgun tucked into his waistband.
Police later determined the weapon was an imitation gun designed to look real. The footage shows Forrest approaching Flores and the two exchanging words during a brief argument. During the confrontation, prosecutors said Forrest slapped Flores across the face and tossed Flores’ bicycle into the street.
Moments later, Forrest turned and walked away from the scene. Investigators said Flores pulled out a real firearm and fired nine shots, striking Forrest in the back. Emergency responders pronounced Forrest dead shortly after arriving.
Authorities said the men did not know each other and had no prior relationship. Investigators relied on surveillance video and witness accounts to piece together the sequence of events that led to the fatal shooting.
Flores was arrested about two months later after detectives gathered evidence identifying him as the shooter. During questioning, he told investigators he believed Forrest had threatened him and that he felt humiliated during the confrontation in front of friends.
Prosecutors initially charged Flores with first-degree murder. The case later concluded with a plea agreement in which Flores admitted guilt to first-degree manslaughter.
During the sentencing hearing in Multnomah County Circuit Court, prosecutors said the evidence showed Forrest had turned away and was leaving when Flores fired the shots. That detail, they said, played a significant role in the decision to pursue serious charges.
The judge accepted the plea agreement and imposed a 10-year prison sentence. Under Oregon law, first-degree manslaughter carries a lengthy mandatory prison term.
Investigators said surveillance footage from nearby cameras captured the confrontation and the gunfire, helping detectives confirm the number of shots and the position of the victim when he was struck.
The case drew attention in Portland because of the role the imitation firearm played in the encounter and the rapid escalation from argument to fatal violence.
With Flores now sentenced, the criminal case has concluded unless additional appeals or post-conviction motions are filed.
Authorities said the investigation demonstrated how quickly a brief street dispute can turn deadly.
Author note: Last updated March 6, 2026.