A Portland man has been arrested following an indictment related to the fatal stabbing of Kenny Housman, a local figure known for enforcing rules at a nearby homeless encampment.
Ronnie L. Scott, 61, is charged with first- and second-degree manslaughter, as well as first-degree assault, stemming from the incident that occurred last year.
The indictment, issued by Multnomah County prosecutors, was made public on Friday. Typically, such grand jury proceedings are sealed, but in Scott’s case, it surfaced due to ongoing communication between him, his attorney, and the prosecutors during the process.
While Scott had been free following the incident, he was aware of the charges against him. His attorney has yet to respond to inquiries from OPB for comment.
Scott lived in close proximity to Housman, who allowed individuals to set up an encampment of RVs and vehicles along Clinton Street, near the intersection with Southeast 136th Avenue.
In a telephonic interview with local media in 2024, Housman described his role in the community, where he screened residents and enforced cleanliness rules in the area.
On the early morning of July 15, 2024, police were dispatched to the encampment, where they found Housman suffering from life-threatening injuries. He died later at a hospital as a result of fatal stab wounds, according to the medical examiner’s report.
Property records confirm that Scott purchased a unit at the Copperfield Condominiums in October 2023.
Larry Vaughn, Housman’s half-brother, shared with OPB that neighbors reported seeing Scott on Clinton Street the night of Housman’s death, expressing frustrations over the encampment.
When Housman stepped out of his home to address Scott, an altercation ensued. Witnesses later recounted seeing a man holding a bloodied knife near Housman’s motionless body, with a visible neck wound.
These witnesses intervened by disarming the assailant before police arrived. While Scott was detained that night, he was released afterward and reportedly cooperated with the investigation, according to a police press release.
The details of the investigation leading to Scott’s indictment have not been released. The Portland Police decided in October 2024 to withhold records about Housman’s death citing the ongoing investigation.
Vaughn expressed his desire for a quicker resolution but acknowledged the difficulties inherent in such cases.
“I feel better now than I did. We got him indicted, that’s two-thirds of the battle right there,” Vaughn stated.
Following Housman’s death, tensions regarding the ongoing homelessness situation in Portland have escalated, with rising violence against unhoused individuals.
Media reports from the time suggested the stabbing began as an altercation among encampment residents. Vaughn contested this narrative, describing the residents as mostly working-class individuals whom Housman sought to support.
“God, I miss him,” Vaughn added, recalling Housman’s warm and inviting nature despite occasionally having to be stern with those living in proximity.
Since Housman’s passing, the landscape of Clinton Street has changed significantly, with city officials implementing barricades to deter parking and clear signage warning violators of towing.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Scott does not have any pending court dates, leaving the community to grapple with the aftermath of these events as they await further developments in the case.
image source from：opb
