EUGENE, OREGON – In a tragic incident, a 22-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for the Sept. 2023 shooting death of Stephen Forrest, 32, at a 7-Eleven in Eugene. Jaisi Savath was found guilty by a Lane County jury of second-degree murder with a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon. Prior to the trial, Savath had pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm.
The crime occurred on Sept. 2 of last year when Eugene Police Department officers responded to a shooting at the 7-Eleven at around 2:30 a.m. They discovered Forrest, a 7-Eleven employee, inside the shop with life-threatening injuries. Despite being rushed to PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center in Springfield, Forrest succumbed to his injuries.
Savath surrendered to the police on Sept. 6 and was subsequently arrested. He faced charges of murder in the second degree for Forrest’s death. During the trial, prosecutors and defense attorneys presented their opening statements in front of a twelve-person jury and Lane County Circuit Court Judge Curtis Conover.
Witnesses and investigators testified, including a former 7-Eleven worker who was present during the shooting, a forensic analyst from the Eugene police, and a former police officer who responded to the scene. Surveillance footage shown in court depicted the events leading to the shooting, with Savath seen engaging in a dispute with Forrest before the tragic incident unfolded.
Savath, in his testimony, claimed that he acted out of fear for his safety after mistakenly believing he had been shot in the neck by pepper spray. This led him to fire multiple shots into the 7-Eleven, resulting in Forrest’s death. Despite his claims, the jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the consequences of gun violence and the importance of de-escalation in confrontational situations. It also highlights the need for proper training and adherence to firearms laws to prevent such senseless acts of violence from occurring in the future.