HILLSBORO, Ore- On September 25, 2023, Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Erwin sentenced Vincent Anthony Debellis to 90 months in prison. This sentence comes after the defendant was convicted by a jury of Assault in the First Degree, two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Cocaine, and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. Senior Deputy District Attorney Allison Brown prosecuted the defendant.

On February 24, 2023, the defendant and victim were in downtown Hillsboro, Oregon when they became engaged in a verbal argument. Mr. Debellis had a loaded handgun concealed in his jacket pocket. During the argument, the defendant fired a round through his jacket at the victim. The bullet struck his leg and shattered his femur. 

The defendant ran from the scene. He attempted to hide the gun and jacket behind a phone booth at the nearby transit center. He then boarded a bus. Hillsboro police officers quickly located him and arrested him without incident.  He had a restricted weapon in his pocket and a large amount of cash. Officers later recovered the loaded handgun. 

The defendant admitted to shooting the victim but claimed it was in self-defense. Police searched his van which was parked nearby and found large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine and other items associated with drug dealing. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office acknowledges the work of the Hillsboro Police Department for its swift response and apprehension of the defendant. This office also thanks the Oregon State Police Forensic Lab for its work on this case. 

Mr. Debellis will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence. The prison sentence will be followed by three years of post-prison supervision.