Five teens are facing charges in connection with a November 2025 shooting that killed an Oregon minister.
Zyaire E. Carter, Ty’Davion C. Burton, Jayden J. Sarinana, Jordan C. Perkins and one juvenile who was not identified have all been charged with murder, according to a Portland Police Department (PPD) press release. Carter and Burton face first-degree murder charges, while Sarinana, Perkins, and the unidentified juvenile each face second-degree murder charges. The five teens face additional charges, including burglary in the first degree.
The teens allegedly shot Kevin Cooper on Nov. 1, 2025, in his home, police said. Cooper’s brother alleges that the teens knocked on the door and identified themselves as police officers before they broke into the residence, according to KOIN. Cooper rushed to protect his 4-year-old grandson at the time of the shooting, his brother said. (RELATED: Man Allegedly Assaults Worker At Popular Fast Food Joint. Manager Gets Last Word With Trash Can)
Police responded to Cooper’s residence and found the minister with multiple gunshot wounds. He succumbed to his injuries on Dec. 12.
Police arrested Carter and Burton on Nov. 7 for multiple crimes, including attempted murder, which predated the shooting that killed Cooper, according to the PPD release. The PPD’s Homicide Unit collaborated with the Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) and the Major Crimes Unit (MCU) on an investigation into Cooper’s death.
Members of the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) served three search warrants Jan. 6 and arrested Sarinana and the unidentified juvenile for crimes which predated the alleged murder. ESCT also collaborated with the U.S. Marshals Service to take Perkins into custody Feb. 5, 2026, police said.
PPD Chief Bob Day called Cooper’s death a “tragedy in every way.”
“The death of Kevin Cooper is a tragedy in every way,” Day stated in the press release. “While nothing can bring him back, I sincerely hope that these arrests are a step in healing for his family. My sincere thanks to the detectives, criminalists, officers, and others who responded to this terrible call and did the tremendous investigative work required to safely get these dangerous suspects into custody. This work is a significant step in our ongoing efforts to reduce crime and the fear of crime in Portland. I also appreciate our partners at the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office and the U.S. Marshal’s Service for their crucial roles in this case.”
Carter, Burton, Sarinana and Perkins have pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to KOIN. They remain in the Multnomah County Detention Center, while the unidentified juvenile is in custody at the juvenile detention center. The teens could face additional charges, police said.
Cooper’s brother said their family did not know the suspects and the shooting was random, KPTV reported.
A spokesperson for the PPD directed the Daily Caller to its press release when asked to comment on the case.