PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN 6) — One of the men accused of being involved in a downtown gang-related shooting that wounded three people has taken a plea deal.
Isaac S. Harden Jr. changed his plea Wednesday to guilty to a single count of riot. Investigators said Harden was with George Waters the night of the shooting. Harden was not the triggerman, police said.
A grand jury originally indicted Harden with charges that included attempted murder, second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. The Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) attempted to arrest Harden at his Northeast Portland home in August, but Harden fled, police said. He was eventually taken into custody.
The shooting occurred Aug. 17, 2014 at the intersection of Southwest 3rd and Ash. Witnesses said a large group had been fighting before the shooting. The fight involved several gang members, police said. Investigators believe that three of the four victims were not the intended targets but were innocent bystanders.
The original grand jury indictment against Harden will be dismissed in exchange for the riot charge and guilty plea. Harden also has a federal case pending and it is expected that he will serve prison time on that case, officials said.
His defense attorney, Alicia Hercher, said all Harden did was throw a punch.
The case against Waters remains pending.
Harden’s father is also lodged in the Multnomah County Detention Center on a United States Marshals Hold for a pending federal drug and money laundering case. He was arrested by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) March 12, 2014.