Kevin Len Cooper loved his family and his faith. He worked as a minister in Portland, Oregon, and felt personally called to share his experience with others. Sadly, Cooper’s life ended in December 2025, a month after he was injured in a shooting. Cooper guarded his grandchild from gunfire, ultimately sacrificing himself. On February 24, 2026, police announced the arrest of five teenage suspects in connection with Cooper’s death. Hopefully, now his family can begin to heal from this months-long nightmare.
Intruders reportedly shot Cooper during a home invasion in the 9300 block of Southeast Ramona Street in Portland around 12:30 a.m. November 1. Cooper’s brother, who asked to remain anonymous, told KOIN the teens broke into his home pretending to be police officers. The grandfather ran to protect his 4-year-old grandchild and wound up shot multiple times.
“Since the shooting … Detectives with the Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) have been pursuing leads, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and conducting other investigative work to identify who was responsible for the crime,” the Portland Police Bureau shared in a news release. “They determined that five suspects invaded Mr. Cooper’s home and shot him in front of his family members.”
Prosecutors charged Zyaire Carter and Ty’Davion C. Buron with first-degree murder, among other counts. They also charged Jayden J. Sarinana, Jordan Persins, and an unidentified male juvenile with second-degree murder. It is unclear if prosecutors will push to try the teenagers as juveniles or adults.
Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Eric Palmer wants the Cooper family to receive the justice they deserve.
“We cannot tolerate this growing rate of violence among youth and young adults,” Palmer said via the news release. “Kevin Cooper should still be with his grandchildren, his wife, and his church. We look forward to delivering justice for Mr. Cooper’s family, holding these men accountable, and doing our part to prevent further acts of violence.”
According to his obituary, Cooper dedicated his life to helping others find a relationship with God.
“He took his vows seriously—to love, honor, and cherish his wife; to raise, teach, and love his children and grandchildren in a way that would please God; and to serve faithfully in the church, work he truly enjoyed,” his obituary reads. “He also deeply loved his extended family and looked forward to family gatherings as opportunities to reconnect, spend time with the younger generations, and encourage them to pursue God, follow their dreams, and stay out the streets.”
We cannot imagine how terrified Cooper must have been in those final moments. True to what his obituary claims, he protected his grandchild, even though it cost him his life.
