Tigard Man Found Guilty of Attempted Murder and Aggravated Assault for Shooting a U.S. Postal Service Employee

A federal judge in Portland has convicted 34-year-old Kevin Eugene Irvine from Tigard, Oregon, for the attempted murder of a United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier. Irvine was found guilty of three charges: attempted murder of a federal employee, aggravated assault on a federal employee with a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. Despite raising an insanity defense during the trial, the judge ruled that he did not meet the criteria for legal insanity.

The incident occurred on December 24, 2022, when Irvine, driving a white van, made eye contact with the letter carrier in a Milwaukie neighborhood. Misinterpreting Irvine's gesture as a wave, the letter carrier returned the greeting. Later, as the letter carrier noticed the same van again, Irvine stopped nearby, exited his vehicle with a rifle, and fired three shots, hitting the letter carrier as he sought cover.

Following the shooting, Irvine collected the shell casings and fled the scene. Shortly after, on December 28, authorities located and arrested him in Lake Oswego after spotting his van. A search of the vehicle uncovered three rifles, ammunition, and other firearm-related items.

On February 8, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland indicted Irvine on multiple counts related to the attack. For each of the charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault, Irvine faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, along with significant fines and supervised release. Additionally, the charge of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, with a possibility of life imprisonment.

The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from local police departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gary Y. Sussman and Eliza Carmen Rodriguez, with sentencing scheduled for July 17, 2025.