HILLSBORO, Ore- On March 22, 2024, Joshua Michael Best pleaded guilty to Attempted Murder in the Second Degree with a firearm. Washington County Circuit Court Judge Brandon Thompson sentenced the defendant to 90 months in prison. Senior Deputy District Attorney Allison Brown prosecuted this case. 

On August 20, 2022, the defendant went to the Sunset Strip in Washington County with a woman named Heather Lundy. He and Ms. Lundy assaulted a woman inside and were forced to leave by an employee working security. Mr. Best told the employee he was going to shoot up the establishment. As he was driving away, he aimed a handgun in the direction of the employee and fired several rounds before leaving the scene. The defendant is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess weapons. 

Deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded. Bullet strikes to the building and a vehicle were discovered as well as several casings. Detectives were able to identify Mr. Best as the shooter. On September 6, 2022, the defendant was located and arrested in Portland. He had the firearm in his possession and tried to conceal it from police. Additional detective work revealed further evidence connecting the defendant to the shooting. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the work of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, including lead detective Shannon Wilde, and the assistance of the Portland Police Bureau. The defendant will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence. He is ordered to serve three years of post-prison supervision upon his release. Heather Lundy previously pleaded guilty to Assault in the Fourth Degree for her role in this incident.