‘He was a protector’: Man stabbed to death reportedly defending friend outside bar in Oregon; Arrest made

Colin M. Smith (Smith photo from Portland Police Bureau; Crime scene screenshot from KPTV FOX 12 Oregon)

Colin M. Smith (Smith photo from Portland Police Bureau; Crime scene screenshot from KPTV FOX 12 Oregon)

Murder and bias crime charges were filed against a 24-year-old man in the stabbing death of a restaurant server reportedly defending a friend from homophobic slurs and harassment outside a bar in Portland, Oregon.

A grand jury indicted Rahnique Usef Jackson in the death of Colin Smith, 32. Jackson faces charges of murder in the second degree, unlawful use of a weapon, and bias crime in the second degree, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said in a news release.

The attack happened on July 2, just before 2 a.m. The suspect had been angry before the stabbing after a bartender joked about him not tipping, and had allegedly harassed, hurled homophobic slurs and inappropriately touched someone in Smith’s group of friends outside the High Dive bar, Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Members of Jackson’s group told police they saw Jackson arguing with the group and described him as “out of control and angry,” the news site reported, citing court documents.