Man Who Stabbed Neighbor To Death Gets Life Sentence

PORTLAND, Ore. — Court documents say that Allen Coe broke into the Southeast Portland apartment of his neighbor, Matthew Choi, early on the morning of October 25th, 2020 and stabbed him in the chest during a struggle.

Choi was protecting his girlfriend from Coe, who also attempted to stab her.  It happened just hours after a gathering with friends to celebrate Choi’s 33rd birthday.  Both men lived in the building at Southeast 12th and Pine.

Matthew ran Choi’s Kimchi Company and was a fixture at farmers markets.  This statement was posted on the website.

A U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force arrested Coe more than three weeks later.  He pleaded guilty to murder and burglary and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

Investigators say Coe spit at them as they interviewed him.  Saliva was used to collect his DNA that helped seal the case.  A backpack found near the crime scene contained social security cards and personal information of two other tenants in the building who reported the items were stolen in a burglary earlier that month.