Police say Kevin Cooper was shot during a November home invasion and died weeks later.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Charges were handed down for five teenage suspects in the killing of Kevin Cooper, a Portland minister and grandfather who police say was shot while trying to protect his 4-year-old granddaughter during a home invasion at his Southeast Portland house.

The case matters now because it turned a November shooting into a homicide prosecution after Cooper died on Dec. 12, 2025, from his injuries. Portland police say the suspects forced their way into Cooper’s home and shot him in front of family members. The arrests and indictments have put new focus on a violent case that investigators say may be tied to other robberies, while prosecutors and police describe the killing as part of a wider pattern of youth violence.

Police said officers from East Precinct were sent to the 9300 block of Southeast Ramona Street at about 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2025, after reports of a shooting. They found Cooper wounded by multiple gunshots and rushed him to a hospital. He survived for more than a month before dying on Dec. 12. In later court action, investigators said five teenagers were responsible for entering the home. Cooper’s brother told local media that the group first banged on the door and claimed to be police officers before forcing its way inside. Once inside, the intruders opened fire, and the family says Cooper moved to shield his young granddaughter. Portland Police Chief Bob Day later called the killing “a tragedy in every way,” as the case shifted from a shooting inquiry to a homicide investigation.

The five suspects now face a mix of murder and other felony charges. Police identified Zyaire E. Carter, 19, and Ty’Davion C. Burton, 18, as facing first-degree murder charges, along with charges that include first-degree assault, first-degree burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm, four counts of unlawful use of a weapon, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, four counts of recklessly endangering another person and menacing. Jayden J. Sarinana, 18, Jordan C. Perkins, 18, and a 17-year-old boy are accused of second-degree murder and other charges tied to the shooting. Authorities have not publicly explained in detail who fired the shots inside the house, what prompted the break-in, or whether the suspects specifically targeted Cooper or his address. Police also have not publicly described what, if anything, was taken from the home.

The investigation moved in stages over several months. Carter and Burton were first arrested on Nov. 7, 2025, on unrelated charges that police said predated the shooting and included attempted murder, assault, robbery and unlawful use of firearms. After Cooper died, the Homicide Unit joined detectives who had already been working the case. On Jan. 6, 2026, police served three search warrants and arrested Sarinana and the juvenile suspect in robbery cases that investigators said came before Cooper’s killing. A Multnomah County grand jury later indicted Carter, Burton, Sarinana and Perkins in Cooper’s death, and Perkins was arrested on Feb. 5 with help from the U.S. Marshals Service. Police said all four adults are being held at the Multnomah County Detention Center, while the juvenile is in a detention facility for minors.

Beyond the criminal case, officials and relatives have framed Cooper’s death as both a family loss and a community blow. Police said his family wanted the public to know he was a grandfather, a minister in his local church and devoted to his family. Church postings after his death identified him as a faithful servant at People of Purpose Family Worship Center. Law enforcement records say Cooper’s death was ruled a homicide caused by a gunshot wound. The city’s release also noted that Portland had recorded 48 homicides in 2025 by the time the original death notice was issued. Deputy District Attorney Eric Palmer, who is prosecuting the case, said Cooper “should still be with his grandchildren, his wife, and his church,” and said authorities intend to hold the defendants accountable. That statement underscored the wider stakes that officials have attached to the prosecution.

The emotional weight of the case has remained clear in the details made public. Family members say Cooper was shot in his own home, in front of relatives, after the intruders used the language of law enforcement as a way to get close to the door. The account has sharpened public anger because it mixed a home invasion with an alleged police ruse and ended with the death of a church minister who relatives say put himself between a child and gunfire. Cooper’s life outside the case has also surfaced in scattered public remembrances. Reports based on his obituary said he had served as a minister for about 20 years and was remembered for fishing, dominoes and a steady commitment to his church and family. Those personal details have given the case a human center beyond the long list of charges.

As of now, all five suspects are in custody and the investigation remains open, with police saying more charges may still be pending as detectives examine possible links to additional robberies. The next milestone is the continued prosecution in Multnomah County, where the murder case is now moving forward.

Author note: Last updated March 23, 2026.