Oregon Man Pursued After $2K Lottery Win, Survives Stabbing

A man in Portland, Oregon, was brutally attacked and stabbed multiple times this past weekend, reportedly because of his lottery winnings. The victim, who managed to survive by pretending to be dead, found himself in a life-threatening situation after leaving a local bar on Saturday night, where he had won $2,000 from a lottery machine.

According to an affidavit from the Portland Police Bureau, as reported by local media outlet KGW8, the unidentified victim’s ordeal began when he met 61-year-old Pablo Andres Figueroa while at the bar. Following their interaction, the victim returned to his home, located a few blocks from the bar. He unlocked the secured gate that leads to his apartment; however, Figueroa managed to stop the gate from closing, allowing him to follow the victim into the apartment complex.

Once inside, Figueroa, as confirmed by surveillance footage, shadowed the victim at a short distance. As the victim opened his apartment door, Figueroa reportedly forced his way inside, tackling the victim and pinning him to the ground.

A bluffed survival

The affidavit claims that Figueroa struck the victim in the face and demanded money. The victim complied by giving Figueroa some of his cash, which did not satisfy the assailant. Figueroa then brandished a pocketknife and stabbed the victim 15 times, targeting his arms, chest, and face. In a bid for survival, the victim stated that he was beginning to lose consciousness and chose to play dead.

It remains unclear how law enforcement was alerted to the scene. However, according to the media outlet, the police reviewed the security camera footage, which showed that Figueroa had not exited the building after the assault.

As the police investigated, an employee of the complex recognized Figueroa and provided his name to the authorities. Police successfully located Figueroa in a trash room within the building, where they took him into custody using mace due to his aggressive demeanor.

Officers noted the presence of blood on Figueroa’s pants and discovered $624 in cash on him. They also found the pocketknife stashed inside a cat litter box.

Extensive criminal history

As investigators examined the background of the suspect, they found that he had an extensive criminal history. In November 2022, Figueroa had been arrested by Portland police in connection with two stolen vehicles.

Although he was promptly released from jail, he failed to appear for his subsequent court dates, which led to multiple arrest warrants being issued. The most recent warrant relevant to those charges was issued on July 2, just weeks prior to the stabbing incident.

Additionally, Figueroa faced ongoing legal troubles related to a case concerning identity theft in Washington County that had been progressing since early 2021. A new arrest warrant was issued on Aug. 16, just one day before the stabbing took place.

Figueroa’s criminal record is extensive, reaching back to at least 2011, when he was convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in California. Furthermore, he received a felony conviction in Arkansas in 2018 for failing to register as a sex offender. This pattern of evading the legal system has cast a shadow over Figueroa’s interactions with law enforcement.

Figueroa was arraigned on Monday on several charges. He faces sentencing for second-degree attempted murder, one count of first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of first-degree robbery, and two counts of first-degree burglary.