The SpokeSman • TueSday, november 22, 2022 A5
Jury convicts Redmond man of manslaughter
BY BRYCE DOLE
CO Media Group
Ian Mackenzie Cranston was
found not guilty of second-de-
gree murder but guilty of first-de-
gree manslaughter in the shoot-
ing death of Barry Washington
Jr., an unarmed Black man, in
downtown Bend last year.
A 12-per-
son jury in
Deschutes
County Cir-
cuit Court
returned
the verdict
Wednesday,
Washington
bringing an
end to one of
the most highly anticipated trials
the county has seen in years.
The jury also found Crans-
ton guilty on lesser charges of
second-degree manslaughter,
assault and the unlawful use of a
weapon.
The jury of six men and six
women, all of whom are white,
began deliberations Tuesday af-
ternoon and returned with its de-
cision nearly 24 hours later.
Cranston, 28, of Redmond,
said he acted in self-defense when
he shot and killed Washington,
22, during a fight between them
outside the Capitol Bar on Sept.
19, 2021.
The fight erupted after Wash-
ington complimented Cranston’s
fiancee, Allison Butler, outside
the bar. Washington punched
Cranston twice and his friend,
Tyler Smith, once after a shouting
match. Cranston then pulled out
his handgun, stood for 30 sec-
onds, took aim and fired.
The shooting sparked protests
across Bend and made headlines
across the country due to racial
tensions surrounding the case.
When the verdict was read by
Judge Beth Bagley on Wednes-
day, Cranston looked straight
ahead, showing little emotion.
Behind him, his loved ones stared
straight ahead before some cried
into their hands.
Washington’s mother,
La’Wanda Roberson, was shaking
nervously as she sat in the court-
room, steeling herself for the ver-
dean Guernsey/The bulletin
Ian Cranston, center, and his attorneys listen Wednesday as the verdict is read during his trial in the fatal shooting of Barry Washington Jr. in the
Deschutes County Courthouse in Bend.
dean Guernsey/The bulletin
dean Guernsey/The bulletin
La’Wanda Roberson, Barry Washington Jr.’s mother, reacts Wednesday
to the jury’s verdict finding Ian Cranston guilty of first-degree man-
slaughter in Washington’s death.
dict. Prayers were uttered among
family members with her. When
Bagley read the jury’s decision,
Roberson and her loved ones be-
gan to weep.
“Hopefully this is something
that will bring a little bit of clo-
sure,” Roberson told a crowd
outside the courthouse. “I know
that for the jurors, this was a
hard case. I’m happy that they
didn’t side with the self-defense
and they seen the truth. I’m just
happy to have some sort of justice
for my son.”
Roberson said that experienc-
ing the trial was difficult and that
she was surprised by the jury’s
decision.
“I just didn’t have any trust in
the justice system in Oregon, I’m
going to be honest,” she said. “But
I did believe in God and I did
trust him.”
Kevin Sali and John Robb,
Cranston’s defense team, said
Barry Washington Jr.’s mother, La’Wanda Roberson, center, receives hugs
from family members Wednesday after a jury found Ian Cranston guilty
of first-degree manslaughter in Washington’s death during the trial at
the Deschutes County Courthouse in Bend.
they planned to appeal the ver-
dict but declined to comment
further.
The mood outside the court-
house was somber but celebra-
tory and led to a chant-filled
march to the Capitol Bar after the
verdict.
Deja Tillman, Washington’s
23-year-old cousin, sat through
practically the entire trial and
seldom left the courtroom. On
Wednesday, she took a moment
at the site of her loved one’s death
near the Capitol Bar to share her
memories of Washington. Losing
her cousin was one of the worst
experiences of her life, she said.
“I’ve been with him since di-
apers,” Tillman said, her voice
cracking as she cried. “I’ve been
with him in Easter baskets. I’ve
been with him since the first day
of us being able to come home
together.”
The trial was full of dramatic
moments, including Cranston’s
decision to take the stand. He tes-
tified that he feared Washington
wouldn’t leave he and his friends
alone and that he had to shoot to
stop his punches. Cranston said
he rendered aid to Washington
after the shot because he didn’t
want him to die.
But in a searing closing argu-
ment on Tuesday, prosecutors J.
Michael Swart and Brooks Mc-
Clain sought to dismantle that
claim piece by piece.
They argued Cranston used
disproportionate force and was
being reckless for mixing guns
and alcohol. Swart showed that
Cranston held onto a cigarette
during the entire fight outside the
bar and took a drag after shoot-
ing Washington. Swart argued it
was evidence that Cranston did
not fear for his safety during the
fight and was not legally justified
in using deadly force to defend
himself.
Deschutes County District At-
torney John Hummel told The
Bulletin Wednesday that the clos-
ing arguments were pivotal to the
verdict.
“His closing argument showed
why I hired him,” Hummel said
of Swart, who declined to com-
ment after the verdict. “I don’t
know if we could have won this
case without Mike Swart.”
Hummel said he was happy
for Washington’s family but had
sympathy for Cranston’s loved
ones. In addition, he spoke to the
broader implications of the ver-
dict for the city of Bend.
“Many people said they didn’t
think Bend could hold Cranston
accountable because Barry was
Black and Ian is white,” Hummel
said. “Our town said: We’re going
to lead with the facts and the law
and they delivered a verdict for
justice and I couldn’t feel better
about it.”
Cranston will be sentenced on
Nov. 28. The minimum sentence
for first-degree manslaughter in
Oregon is 10 years.
Tillman said she was grateful
that some semblance of justice
was delivered for her family.
“We walked out of there, get-
ting those 10 years and nothing
less,” Tillman said.
█
Reporter: 541-617-7854,
bdole@bendbulletin.com