Oregon Man Convicted of Killing USPS Mail Carrier After Telling Bystanders to Stop Filming So He Could ‘Handle It’
CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OREGON — A 53-year-old Oregon man has been found guilty of murdering a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in front of witnesses — including the victim’s mother — after ordering neighbors to stop recording so he could “handle it.”
According to the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office, Chad Michael Westover was convicted of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon in the fatal stabbing of 43-year-old Tristan Salvatore Thomas.
The confrontation unfolded on September 21, 2024, at the Twin Creek Apartment complex on SE Sunnyside Road in Clackamas, just outside Portland.
Deadly Fight Caught on Video as Neighbors Yelled for Westover to Stop
Authorities said that as the two men fought, Westover told onlookers to stop filming, saying he would “take care of it.” Seconds later, he pulled out a kitchen knife and began stabbing Thomas repeatedly.
“Several neighbors and Thomas’ mother yelled at Westover, who was on top of Thomas and stabbing him with the kitchen knife, to halt the assault,” prosecutors said.
Thomas suffered multiple stab wounds, including a 4-inch slash to his left vertebral artery, and was rushed to the hospital. Despite emergency surgery, he died from his injuries on October 3, 2024.
After the stabbing, Westover allegedly fled the scene and was arrested several days later.
Altercation Began Earlier in the Day Over Parking Dispute
Court records revealed the violence stemmed from a series of escalating confrontations earlier that day.
Thomas reportedly clashed with another neighbor, Christopher Stewart, over how Stewart had parked his motorcycle. The argument turned physical, leaving Thomas hospitalized. Deputies who responded at the time said there wasn’t enough evidence to arrest anyone.
Later that evening, Stewart, Westover, and Samantha Christensen—Westover’s cousin—attended a party in the same complex. They left abruptly after receiving a call from Stewart’s teenage daughter, who claimed a man was following her.
They soon encountered Thomas again, who was allegedly holding a butcher knife.
A witness video captured Westover saying, “If you guys are done filming, I’ll take care of it,” to which Christensen replied, “I’m done, take care of it, Chad.” Moments later, Westover lunged at Thomas, initiating the deadly assault.
Victim’s Mother and Witnesses Watched in Horror
Neighbors and Thomas’ mother witnessed the brutal scene, shouting at Westover to stop.
“He’s stabbing me!” Thomas could be heard yelling during the assault, according to a 168-page probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime.
The ordeal reportedly lasted nearly five minutes before Westover threw the knife onto Thomas’ body and walked away.
Christensen allegedly took the victim’s phone and answered a callback from 911, falsely telling dispatchers that “everything was fine” before hanging up, authorities said.
Defense Claimed Self-Defense — Jury Didn’t Buy It
Westover’s defense attorneys argued that Thomas was the aggressor and claimed he had been intoxicated during the encounter. They presented photos of a small wound on Westover’s face, suggesting Thomas had attacked first.
However, investigators found no defensive injuries on Westover and noted inconsistencies in his story. When he sought hospital treatment later that night, he allegedly told doctors he’d been in a motorcycle accident.
Christensen has been charged separately with first-degree assault, hindering prosecution, and tampering with evidence.
Westover is scheduled for sentencing on November 17, where he faces decades in prison.
Community Mourns Fallen Mail Carrier
Thomas’ family described him as a devoted U.S. Postal Service worker and a loving son who often helped neighbors in his spare time. A GoFundMe campaign launched in his honor raised funds for funeral expenses and community support.
“Tristan was the kind of person who’d give you the shirt off his back,” one family friend said. “He didn’t deserve what happened to him.”
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