KOIN.com

In their words: Destinee Mangum, Mom recall MAX stabbings

Eileen Park

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — On May 26, 2017, Destinee Mangum and her best friend were on their way to Clackamas Town Center, when they realized they took the wrong MAX train and ended up at Lloyd Center. So they got back on the right train, started listening to music and talking among themselves, when Jeremy Christian, started yelling at them.

A overhead view of the crime scene where two men were killed and another was wounded in a stabbing on May 26, 2017. (KOIN)

“Christians kill Christians,” Mangum remembers Christian shouting at them, right before the train stopped on Hollywood and NE 42nd. “Muslims kill Muslims.” 

Mangum said they decided to move toward the other end of the train. That’s when, within minutes, two men were killed and another man was seriously wounded after Christian allegedly went on a stabbing spree. The three men reportedly confronted Christian in defense of Mangum and her Muslim friend. Christian will now stand trial in June 2019. 

As we approach the year anniversary, Mangum, along with her mother, Dyjuana Hudson, reflect on the day that changed their lives, in their own words. 

Destinee Mangum and a friend were reportedly the target of racist hate speech made by Jeremy Christian at a MAX station on May 26, 2017. Christian is suspected of killing two men and injuring another who stood up for Mangum. (KOIN)

Destinee

(Christian was yelling) “You think the Nazis are so bad?” And he was saying “You might as well go back to where you came from. You don’t belong here. You should just kill yourself.” 

—

Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche (left) and Ricky John Best (center) were killed in a stabbing on May 26, 2017. Micah Fletcher (right) was also wounded. (Courtesy)

His eyes were so dark and you can see that he wasn’t in the right mind frame at the time. So I was kind of like just looking at him. It was very scary.

—

Micah (Fletcher) stepped up and he started to say something to Jeremy (Christian) and that’s when they started getting confrontational. 

— 

When we looked back on the train, that’s when we saw Jeremy had stabbed them, and that’s when we started running. I didn’t stay to look and see what was going on. But when I saw Taliesin (Namkai-Meche) and all the blood gushing from his hands, it was instantly, like, we have to get away from this situation. 

— 

I just want to say thank you and that you lost someone that you…

Destinee starts to shake her head

…It’s just. I just really. I don’t want to apologize because a lot of people say it’s not my fault, but it kind of feels like it is.

—

I’m sorry and I hope that you guys are not taking it as hard as I am, because I really didn’t expect that to happen.

—

I don’t know what to do at this point. 

Dyjuana Hudson is the mother of Destinee Mangum, who was targeted by racial remarks by Jeremy Christian, who is suspected of killing two people and wounding another on May 26, 2017. (KOIN)

Destinee starts to cry

Dyjuana Hudson

Dyjuana sighs

It’s been a rough year. 

Destinee

A memorial held in 2017 for the two men stabbed to death at a MAX station in Northeast Portland. (KOIN)

I want (Taliesen and Ricky John Best) to know that I appreciate them giving their lives to me. For not even knowing me. And I just feel like I just have to give back. That’s the only thing that’s going to make my heart heal. 

Dyjuana

My daughter could’ve died. But my main thing was that people died for my daughter. That was the biggest part for me. When I realized that I was, like, wow.

Destinee

How crazy how this situation can bring people together. 

—

Since that day, Destinee said her view of the world has completely changed. She felt like she was in this high school cocoon, thinking about things that other teenagers often think about. 

But now, Destinee said she sees that there’s real pain in the world. She wonders how she could play a role in helping people heal.