Rider shoots MAX train flasher; Portland jury acquits him of attempted murder

OregonLive ^ | 10/6/2026 | Aimee Green

[aimhigh]

A Portland jury was faced with an unusual question: Should a 71-year-old man who shot a stranger flashing his genitals at him on a MAX train be convicted of any crimes?

It was after midnight when Michael Grover Phill and his legally blind life partner boarded a MAX train in North Portland in January.

Later, a 40-year-old man with a gaping hole in the crotch of his pants and his penis clearly visible boarded the train. The man walked up and down the aisle, past the three passengers who were fumbling with some aluminum foil, a straw and what Phill presumed to be drugs.

Phill later would explain that the man had repeatedly threatened to rob him and rape his partner. When the couple got up to leave, the man advanced toward them. That’s when Phill pulled a handgun from his jacket, shot the man once in the thigh and fled.

[gibsonguy]

A rather on the nose Portland story.

[dfwgator]

He should get a medal.

[tlozo]

Result of law and order falling apart

[redcatcherb412]

shoulda shot him in the nads

[TheDon]

Quite a misleading title.

[Bigg Red]

Yes

[al baby]

https://y.getyarn.io/792a9a66-f348-4b72-bf0b-6f9287d67e8a.mp4

[PGR88]

Later, a 40-year-old man with a gaping hole in the crotch of his pants and his penis clearly visible boarded the train.

And he left with his penis still exposed, but a new, gaping hole in his torso

Well done, Phill!

[gundog]

He hit him in the thigh. He may have been aiming for the ‘nads

[Chewbarkah]

We all know the answer, but why in hell would this obvious self-defense case have ever gone to trial?

[bobbo666]

The mantra is: “your actions are making me fear for my life”. Fire away. That works even here in CaCaLand.

[21twelve]

“Yes sir, you claim that he threatened to rape your partner, but did he really have the immediate means and opportunity?”

“I felt so at the time, as he was three feet away with his ‘weapon’ already out of his pants and visible.”

[Pontiac]

When the couple got up to leave, the man advanced toward them. That’s when Phill pulled a handgun from his jacket, shot the man once in the thigh and fled.

Oh! So, close.

But, I agree. That is where the hole should have been.

Don't threaten a man's girl unless you are willing to pay with your life.

[gundog]

It starts with felon in possession. Kate Brown, and now Kotek's DAs will pursue charges. It's a given. I sat on a jury for a felon in possession case, post-Covid. The case was years old, and came down to whether the DA could prove that the felon knew the handgun was in the car he borrowed from his girlfriend. How do you prove what he knew? Beats me. Gun was well concealed. If they'd gotten his fingerprints from the gun, I might have bought it. But the cops apparently didn't check. Made a big deal about a video they'd made of the gun being fired at a range. Yup...it went bang. But so what?

A waste of time, and money. We acquitted. Dude beat a woman to death a few months later.

[gundog]

Multnomah County makes Cali look sane.

[gundog]

“I Figured he wasn’t out collecting for the Red Cross.” / Harry Callahan

[packrat35]

Hard to believe this even went to trial, but it is Portland...

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Was gonna say...plenty of time to do some real damage and he missed. Oh well.

[null and void]

From what you said acquittal was the proper call. It’s still annoying that he went on to other things.