Authorities say five teenagers entered Kevin Cooper’s home and shot him in front of relatives.
PORTLAND, Ore. — A Portland homicide case that began with a late-night shooting on Southeast Ramona Street now centers on five teenage suspects accused in the death of Kevin Cooper, a minister who family members say was protecting his 4-year-old granddaughter.
The story has drawn broad attention because the charges were built over time, not in a single arrest sweep. Police say Cooper was shot on Nov. 1, 2025, and died on Dec. 12, turning the case into a homicide. Investigators then tied five teenagers to the break-in, and prosecutors secured murder indictments against the adult suspects. The case also stands out because relatives said the intruders posed as police officers before forcing their way inside, a detail that deepened the shock around an already violent crime.
According to Portland police, officers reached the home in the 9300 block of Southeast Ramona Street at about 12:30 a.m. after reports of gunfire. They found Cooper suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, and the suspects had already fled. The public record released later by police gave only a limited account of what happened inside, but detectives said the group invaded the home and shot Cooper in front of family members. Relatives filled in part of that gap through local interviews, saying the teenagers knocked, claimed to be police and then broke through the door. Cooper’s brother said Kevin moved to protect his young granddaughter during the attack. That account has not been expanded in detail by police, but investigators have not publicly disputed it.
The charging record shows how the prosecution divided the defendants. Carter, 19, and Burton, 18, are charged with first-degree murder and a long list of related counts, including first-degree assault, first-degree burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm, menacing, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, four counts of unlawful use of a weapon and four counts of recklessly endangering another person. Sarinana, 18, Perkins, 18, and the 17-year-old suspect each face second-degree murder charges along with assault, burglary and related counts. Authorities have said additional robberies are under review, and they have not ruled out more charges. They also have not publicly answered several key questions, including whether all five entered the house at the same time, which suspect or suspects fired, and whether investigators believe the family was selected at random or for a specific reason.
The case file released by police shows a steady investigative build. On Nov. 7, less than a week after the shooting, tactical officers arrested Carter and Burton on unrelated charges tied to earlier crimes. After Cooper died in December, the Homicide Unit began working alongside the detectives already assigned to the shooting. On Jan. 6, 2026, officers served three search warrants and arrested Sarinana and the juvenile suspect in robbery cases that police said came before the murder. A Multnomah County grand jury later indicted Carter, Burton, Sarinana and Perkins in Cooper’s death. Perkins was arrested on Feb. 5 with help from the U.S. Marshals Service. Officials have credited the police bureau’s Enhanced Community Safety Team, Major Crimes Unit, Homicide Unit, the district attorney’s office and federal partners for building the case.
Public statements from police and prosecutors have stressed both the human loss and the broader social concern behind the case. Police Chief Bob Day said he hoped the arrests would be “a step in healing” for Cooper’s family. Deputy District Attorney Eric Palmer said authorities could not tolerate what he called a growing rate of violence among youth and young adults. Cooper’s family, through police, asked that the public know him as more than a victim: a grandfather, a minister and a man devoted to his relatives. Church announcements after his death described him as a faithful servant at People of Purpose Family Worship Center. Reports drawing from his obituary added that he had served in ministry for about 20 years, beginning at HeavenBound Deliverance Center Church before the congregation became People of Purpose.
Even with major arrests made, the case still leaves important pieces unseen. Police have not publicly released a narrative of the moments just before the door was opened, how long the attackers were inside, or whether any surveillance or forensic evidence directly links each suspect to movements in the house. The official release also does not say whether the family recognized any of the intruders or whether investigators believe the claimed police identity was planned in advance. What is clear is that Cooper survived the initial gunfire only to die weeks later, and that his death was ruled a homicide by gunshot wound. The combination of a delayed death, multiple suspects and overlapping robbery investigations made this case more complex than a typical one-night crime story.
Where the matter stands now is clear: the five suspects are in custody, the adult defendants have been indicted, and detectives say they are still examining whether the same group was involved in other robberies. The next step is the court process in Multnomah County, where prosecutors will continue moving the murder case forward while police decide whether to file additional counts.
Author note: Last updated March 23, 2026.