An Oregon resident, Chad Michael Westover, 53, was recently convicted of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon in the fatal stabbing of a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, Tristan Salvatore Thomas, 43. The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the conviction, which stemmed from a violent altercation at their shared apartment complex on September 21, 2024.
The incident began when Westover and Thomas engaged in a physical confrontation. Westover reportedly asked bystanders to stop recording the incident so he could “handle it.” He then proceeded to attack Thomas with a kitchen knife, while the victim’s mother and several neighbors watched in horror. Thomas succumbed to his injuries in the hospital on October 3, 2024.
Witnesses reported that Westover, who was on top of Thomas, repeatedly stabbed him with the kitchen knife, despite pleas from onlookers to stop. Thomas sustained multiple stab wounds, including a 4-inch slash to his left vertebral artery. Westover also suffered injuries during the altercation. After the attack, Westover fled the scene but was apprehended a few days later.
Westover’s defense team argued that Thomas was the initial aggressor and described him as an “unreasonable and unstable man” who was intoxicated on the night of the incident. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 17.
The incident took place at the Twin Creek Apartment complex on SE Sunnyside Road in Clackamas, just outside of Portland. Earlier that day, Thomas had a dispute with a neighbor, Christopher Stewart, over a parking issue. Stewart allegedly assaulted Thomas, who was later hospitalized. However, deputies did not find sufficient probable cause to arrest Stewart.
After being discharged from the hospital, Thomas returned to the apartment complex. Meanwhile, Stewart and Westover were attending a party hosted by Samantha S. Christensen, 48. At some point, Stewart received a call from his teenage daughter who claimed she was being followed by a “strange man” in the complex. The trio left the party to investigate and identified the man as Thomas, who was allegedly armed with a butcher knife.
The subsequent events were captured on video by neighbors and through Thomas’ 911 calls. The footage allegedly shows Westover saying, “If you guys are done filming, I’ll take care of it,” before attacking Thomas. The assault lasted nearly five minutes, after which Westover reportedly threw the knife on Thomas and walked away.
Christensen was later charged with first-degree assault, tampering with physical evidence, hindering prosecution, and interference with making a report. She turned herself into the Clackamas County Jail. She claimed that Thomas had initially attacked Westover with the butcher knife, causing injuries under his eye and rib cage. However, investigators noted the absence of defensive wounds on Westover and found his claim of a motorcycle accident suspicious.
Thomas’ family has since started a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses and other costs. Thomas was remembered as a vibrant, lovable individual who was a pillar of his community.