Authorities on Saturday, May 27, 2017, identified Jeremy Joseph Christian as the suspect in the fatal stabbing of two people on a Portland light-rail train in Oregon.
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office via AP
UPDATE (Tuesday 3:03 p.m. PST)
The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office has asked a judge to deny MAX train murder suspect Jeremy Joseph Christian the opportunity to be released on bail.
A hearing before Judge Cheryl Albrecht is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Multnomah County Circuit Court.
Christian has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder, attempted murder, multiple counts of an unlawful use of a weapon, and multiple counts of intimidation in the second degree.
The charges stem from events on May 26, when prosecutors say Christian boarded the Green Line MAX train and stabbed three victims, killing two, Taliesin Namkai-Meche and Ricky Best.
Christian also stabbed Micah Fletcher in the neck during the altercation on the MAX train, prosecutors say. Fletcher survived the stab wound.
"The state will present evidence that defendant's post-arrest admissions show that his conduct was willful and intentional," Deputy District Attorney Jeff Howes wrote in a Nov. 13 court filing.
On Tuesday, Fletcher, through his attorney, filed a motion opposing Christian's release. "As a victim of this crime, Mr. Fletcher has the right to be reasonably protected from the defendant while the cause proceeds through the criminal justice system," wrote Fletcher's attorney, Rosemary Brewer.
Portland Police Bureau Detective Michele Michaels is scheduled to testify at Wednesday's hearing.
Howes wrote that the evidence presented through Detective Michaels "will unequivocally show" that Christian "intentionally caused the deaths" of Best and Namkai-Meche and that "he fled the scene immediately."
Related: Portland Woman Attacked Day Before Fatal MAX Stabbings Says Police, TriMet Failed Her
When Christian boarded the MAX train he shouted at two young African-American women, one wearing "traditional Muslim dress," according to prosecutors.
"'Get the f--- out!' 'Pay taxes' 'Go home, we need American here!' 'I don't care if you are ISIS,'" Christian shouted at the two young women, Howes wrote in the court filing.
TriMet and passenger cell phone videos show Christian stabbing the three victims, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors say after stabbing Fletcher, he turned to Namkai-Meche and also stabbed him in the neck. Christian "swung again" and stabbed Namkai-Meche a second time. "Victim Ricky Best then moved forward to intervene and defendant stabbed Mr. Best," Howes wrote.
Police recovered a 3.75-inch folding knife that Christian threw at a police vehicle before he was arrested, Howes' court filing states.
After police arrested Christian, he made several statements in the back of the squad car that had audio and video recording equipment.
"'I just stabbed a bunch of motherf------ in their neck,'" Christian said, according to prosecutors. "'Just a punk ass bunch of motherf------.'"
Howes said Christian also added:
"'I can die in prison a happy man,'" Howes wrote. "'I'm all good. I stabbed the two motherf------ in the neck and I'm happy now. I happy now. I can rest easy.'"
"'Think I stab motherf------ in the neck for fun? Oh yeah, you're right I do. I'm a patriot.'"
In the victim's motion, Fletcher's attorney said their concerns are both for the victim's physical and mental health.
"The fear of subsequent attack if the defendant is released is reasonable given his unpredictable behavior, the violent nature of the attack, the lack of provocation, and his statements while in the police vehicle," Brewer wrote.
On May 25, Christian also allegedly assaulted Demetria Hester, who said she was riding the MAX Yellow Line train. The DA's indictment includes those charges.