Rick John Best
Rick John Best
Rick "Ricky" John Best was a Portland City Employee and an US Army Veteran from Happy Valley, Oregon. [1]
Personal Life
Rick John Best grew up in Oregon, mostly in Salem, Oregon. He met his wife, Myhanh Best, at Portland Community College, and then joined the Army. His family moved to Happy Valley a year ago, and his three teenage sons and 12-year-old daughter attend school in Happy Valley and Milwaukie. [1]
Career
Rick worked as a technician for the Portland Bureau of Development Services.
Best retired from the United States Army as a Platoon Sergeant for Corps maintenance in 2012 after 23 years in the military. Rick once ran as a candidate for Clackamas County commissioner in 2014. [1]
Death
On May 26, 2017, while aboard a MAX train approaching the Hollywood, Portland, Oregon Transit Center at around 4:30 p.m. local time, Jeremy Christian was yelling hateful statements at two Muslim girls, one of whom was wearing a hijab.
Ricky John Best and Taliesen Myrddin Namkai Meche came to the women's defense, and were then stabbed to death by Christian. Micah David-Cole Fletcher was also stabbed and was transported to a local hospital who was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Christian was heard yelling, "Get off the bus, and get out of the country because you don't pay taxes here."
After the train stopped moving, Christian was also heard cursing and stated, "This is free America, I can do whatever I want."
Officers arrested Christian as he ran from the Hollywood transit station into the neighborhood near Providence Portland Medical Center.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has also offered its resources to help Portland police with the investigation.
Memory
Portland Councilmember Chloe Eudaly made the following statement on Rick's death [1]:
"My heart goes out to the family of Rick Best.
They have lost a husband and a father, and we have lost a treasured employee,'' City commissioner Chloe Eudaly said in a statement Saturday.
"Rick worked for the city for a little more than two years and was a valued member of our Bureau of Development Services team.
And as a veteran, he served our country with honor and distinction.
He stood up for two young women and others he didn't even know — all because he wanted to help.
"Losing a colleague is hard.
Losing someone under these circumstances makes it even worse.
We are very saddened at the loss of Rick and we will remember him fondly as we move forward.''