A Portland teen has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for manslaughter and other charges related to a tragic DUII crash that killed two of his teenage passengers and a subsequent shooting and police chase.
Julius Whitehurst, 19, was sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, DUII, and unlawful use of a weapon. The charges stem from a crash on July 5, 2023, where Whitehurst, then 18, was driving an SUV with four other teens inside. He was driving under the influence when he crashed into another car near the foot of an Interstate 5 onramp in Southeast Portland, causing the SUV to roll over. Two of the passengers, 16-year-old Onesty Jones and 13-year-old Kamareon Smith, were killed at the scene. Two other passengers were hospitalized with injuries.
After the crash, Whitehurst fled the scene and was not arrested until three weeks later, following a separate shooting incident. Whitehurst, along with two other teens, fired 15 rounds into another vehicle, though no one was injured. Officers tracked down Whitehurst and the others, arresting them after a brief chase.
At the sentencing hearing, Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Kate Molina outlined how Whitehurst continued driving recklessly, despite the pleas of his passengers to stop. Whitehurst’s driver’s license had been suspended at the time of the crash, and none of the passengers were wearing seatbelts. Authorities noted that Whitehurst’s blood alcohol level was 0.26, more than three times the legal limit for an adult driver, and he also tested positive for cannabis.
In addition to the two manslaughter charges, Whitehurst was sentenced to five years and 10 months for second-degree assault, one year for DUII, and five years for unlawful use of a weapon, all to be served concurrently for a total of 20 years in prison.
During the hearing, the family members of the victims addressed Whitehurst. Keysha Smith, mother of Kamareon Smith, expressed the pain her family continues to experience. “Every time you close your eyes, every time you take a breath, every time you do anything, I hope you feel the pain that you have caused for each family,” she said.
Onesty Jones’ mother, Serithia Binns, spoke of forgiveness, saying that despite her immense grief, she had chosen to forgive Whitehurst in order to heal. She urged him to use his time in prison to become a better person.
Whitehurst did not speak during the hearing, but his attorney noted that he had expressed remorse and written a letter of apology to the victims’ families.
This sentence serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of reckless driving and substance abuse behind the wheel, as well as the lasting impact of such actions on families and communities.
