Michael Grover Phill was 71 and was traveling on a MAX train in North Portland, Oregon, with his partner, who is less than 1.52 meters tall, weighs less than 45 kilos, and is legally blind.
According to his account, a man got on the train car with a hole in the crotch of his pants and walked down the aisle exposing himself, among other passengers handling aluminum foil and a straw. His name is Lance Hicks, he is 40 years old and, according to reports, lives on the street and has a history of mental illness. Phill testified that Hicks repeatedly threatened to rob him and sexually assault his partner.
When the couple got up to leave, Hicks moved toward them. Phill pulled a small handgun from his jacket, shouted “Do not run up on me!”, shot Hicks once in the thigh, and fled. He was charged with attempted murder, but the jury acquitted him after the trial in Multnomah County. His lawyer said that Phill regretted having to shoot and did not want to do it.
