In an alarming incident on Saturday morning, Jonathan Langdon found himself in a harrowing situation when a stranger approached him with a hammer on a Portland sidewalk.
The encounter occurred around 8 a.m. at the intersection of North Interstate Avenue and Graham Street. Langdon, 49, was enjoying his ritual of smoking a cigar when he was approached by 33-year-old Jason Patrick Schubel, who exhibited erratic behavior and posed invasive personal questions.
After a brief conversation, Langdon’s unease grew, leading him to attempt to disengage from Schubel. However, this gesture seemed to trigger a violent response.
According to court records, Schubel struck Langdon on the back of the head with the hammer after Langdon stated that he would not be his friend.
In the aftermath of the attack, Langdon described his response as purely instinctual. “There were no thoughts,” he remarked. “I was just in survival mode.”
During the struggle, Langdon managed to pin Schubel to the ground, although he suffered a severe injury in the process. Schubel allegedly bit Langdon on the thigh hard enough to draw blood through his jeans.
As Langdon held Schubel down, he called for assistance. A passerby quickly dialed 911, and when police arrived, they ensured that Schubel was secured and retrieved the hammer from his reach.
Langdon was transported by ambulance to Legacy Emanuel Hospital to treat a significant head wound, which required three staples to close.
Prior to the incident with Langdon, Schubel had been involved in other legal troubles. Court records indicate he is already facing charges for harassment and attempting to assault a police officer from a case in June. Moreover, he has previous convictions for first-degree burglary and public indecency from 2024.
Reflecting on the violent episode, Langdon expressed no anger towards Schubel. Instead, he voiced concern for the suspect’s mental health state. “I hope this dude doesn’t get out to do more (harm),” Langdon stated. “I’m just glad I’m not dead, honestly.”
Despite this frightening experience, Langdon remains resilient and plans to continue smoking cigars on his days off. However, he has decided against using his lawn chair on Interstate Avenue in the future.
In summary, what began as a peaceful morning for Langdon transformed into a nightmare, highlighting issues of public safety and mental health in the community. While he recovered physically, Langdon’s experience serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of urban life and the importance of vigilance in unfamiliar situations.
image source from：oregonlive
