Five Teens Face Murder Charges in the Death of Oregon Minister

Five teenagers face multiple felony charges connected to the death of Kevin Cooper, 56, who was shot during a home invasion on 1 November 2025.

Authorities said the shooting happened around 12:30am at Cooper's Portland residence, at 9300 block Southeast Ramona Street. Cooper was shot multiple times and died on 12 December, more than a month after the incident.

Five Suspects Charged with Prior Arrests

Investigators have identified five suspects, all of whom have been previously arrested for unrelated charges. Zyaire E. Carter, 19, and Ty'Davion C. Burton, 18, were charged on 7 November for attempted murder, assault, robbery and unlawful use of firearms, all allegedly committed before Cooper's murder.

Two more suspects were arrested as a result of search warrants served on 6 January, according to a press release. Jayden J. Sarinana, 18, and a juvenile male, 17, were charged with robberies preceding Cooper's murder. The fifth suspect, Jordan C. Perkins, 18, was taken into custody on 5 February.

Carter, Burton, Sarinana, and Perkins are held at the Multnomah County Detention Centre, the juvenile male at the local juvenile detention facility. Save for the juvenile male, all suspects have been indicted with the murder of Cooper by a Multnomah County grand jury.

'The death of Kevin Cooper is a tragedy in every way,' Portland Police Chief Bob Day said in a statement. 'While nothing can bring him back, I sincerely hope that these arrests are a step in healing for his family.'

Victim Was an Active Member of Local Ministry

Cooper served as a minister at People of Purpose Worship Centre. The suspects shot him while protecting his 4-year-old grandson, his brother told KOIN 6 News.

'Kevin Cooper should still be with his grandchildren, his wife, and his church,' Deputy District Attorney Eric Palmer stated in the press release. 'We look forward to delivering justice for Mr. Cooper's family, holding these men accountable, and doing our part to prevent further acts of violence.'

On top of other felonies, Carter and Burton are charged with first-degree murder, while Sarinana, Perkins, and the juvenile face two counts of second-degree murder. Authorities say more charges may be pending.

According to a report published last August, violent crime rates dropped in Portland in 2025, down 17% from January to June of the previous year. Homicides reportedly fell by 51%, the largest dip for any major city.

Portland's Concerning Youth Violence Trends

The latter half of 2025 did experience an uptick in serious youth violence, according to Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez. 'We've seen some real bad examples, a lot of shootings and some violent crimes,' he told KATU 2 ABC. He said eight juveniles have been charged in homicide cases that year.

The number of youths charged with felony assaults doubled from 2016 to 2024, according to the outlet. In that same span, youths charged with homicide also surged by 60%.

"It's something that I believe that this community really needs to be focused on paying attention to because again a lot of those crimes are committed against children," Vasquez added.

Oregon has the seventh-highest youth incarceration rate in the U.S. in 2023, according to The Sentencing Project.