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Portland man followed home, stabbed 15 times after winning lottery at bar

An Oregon man barely escaped with his life after winning the lottery Saturday night, enduring a brutal stabbing by a new acquaintance who wanted the money.

According to court documents, the victim, a Portland man, met the suspect while playing the lottery machines at Montana’s Bar in Southeast Portland Saturday night.

After winning around $2,000 from the machines, the victim left the bar and walked back to his apartment.

According to prosecutors, the suspect, later identified as Pablo Andres Figueroa, 61, had secretly followed the victim home and slipped through the security gate.

Surveillance footage reportedly showed Figueroa following behind the man several paces until reaching his apartment door.

Before the victim could close the door, prosecutors allege Figueroa forced the door open and tackled the man, punching him in the face and demanding money.

The victim handed over some of the cash, but Figueroa demanded more — then stabbed the victim with a pocketknife 15 times in the arms, chest and face.

The victim later told investigators he played dead to end the attack and then blacked out.

Police responding to the scene said that after speaking with employees at the apartment, they realized the suspect likely had not left the scene.

After a search of the building, they discovered Figueroa in a trash room and arrested him. Investigators say he was found with $624 in cash and some bloodied pants. The pocketknife was found in a cat litter box outside the victim’s apartment, according to court documents.

Figueroa pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, robbery, assault, burglary and unlawful use of a weapon at his arraignment.

A judge ordered him held without bail until a preventative detention hearing can be held. He is due back in court on Aug. 27.

Figueroa is listed with no fixed address in court records. He has several convictions out of Arkansas and California, including for battering a spouse, threatening a crime with intent to terrorize and failing to comply with sex offender reporting requirements.

He has an open case in Multnomah County from 2022 on charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Additionally, he was charged with identity theft and drug charges in Washington County in 2021.

Court records show a warrant was issued for his arrest the day before the stabbing after he failed to show up for his court appearance that day.

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