Liquor store employee robbed while suffering cardiac arrest, later dies

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Updated  November 19, 2025 11:38am PST
FOX Local

(Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The Brief

    • Police say a liquor store employee in Portland suffered a medical emergency during which a man pretended to help before stealing cash from the store.
    • The employee was taken to a hospital and later died from the medical incident, according to authorities.
    • Investigators said the robbery does not appear connected to other cases, and no arrests have been made.

PORTLAND, Ore. - A liquor store employee was robbed as he suffered a cardiac arrest and later died, authorities said.  

The backstory:

Portland Police said the incident happened on October 15 at Bins & Barrels.

Authorities said an employee was suffering a medical event when a customer inside the store went behind the counter, entered an office and stole cash. 

It's unclear how much money was stolen.

Authorities said the robbery doesn't appear to be connected to other robberies.

Dig deeper:

According to FOX 12, the victim was Jason Hay, 53, who died at a hospital a week after the robbery. 

According to the outlet, security camera footage captures a man feigning assistance to Hay during the medical emergency, then stealing from the store and fleeing the scene.

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What they're saying:

A vigil was recently held in remembrance of Hay. 

"He was a light in this community and I hope everyone pays it forward like he would every day," said Jessica Jones, Hay’s sister told the news outlet. 

What you can do:

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Hay's family, which includes a wife and a teenage son. 

Police said no arrests have been made. 

The Source: Information in this story comes from statements released by the Portland Police Bureau and reporting from FOX 12 Oregon. This story was reported from Los Angeles. 

OregonCrime and Public Safety