Prosecutors called Ian Cranston’s fiancée to the stand Friday as a key witness to the 2021 shooting and killing of Barry Washington Jr. in Bend.
The prosecution — using Allison Butler’s testimony and cellphone footage she took of the shooting — attempted to shape their argument that Cranston was not actively threatened when he fired the bullet outside a bar in downtown Bend that killed Washington.
Cranston is on trial for second-degree murder, manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon. The shooting, which happened following the racial justice protests of 2020, has drawn significant attention because Cranston is white and Washington, who was unarmed, was Black.
Deschutes County Deputy District Attorney J. Michael Swart shows a handgun owned by 27-year-old Ian Cranston. Cranston is accused of shooting and killing Barry Washington Jr., 22, during an altercation outside a Bend bar in 2021.
Jack Harvel / The Source Weekly
Butler, 28, explained that she and Cranston had been dating for eight years and moved to Deschutes County from the Portland area in 2020.
Deputy District Attorney J. Michael Swart asked her several questions about the couple’s use and ownership of firearms. Firearms, she said, are a hobby they both participated in: Cranston worked at an ammunition maker in Bend and the couple visited shooting ranges regularly, and owned several firearms.
She also said her fiancé regularly carried a concealed gun, for which he had a permit, including when they went hiking and were out together.
Butler was with Cranston and other friends drinking in Bend the night Washington was killed. She said Washington flirted with her on multiple occasions inside The Capitol bar. Butler told the jury she declined Washington’s advances, saying she was engaged, and parted ways with him after a hug.
Later that night, Butler said, Washington again complimented her outside the bar and Cranston cursed at Washington, telling him to leave. That situation eventually escalated when Washington punched Cranston twice in the head, at which point Butler said she pulled out her cellphone to record the fight.
She said Washington then pushed her phone back toward her when he saw she was filming. The footage captures Washington appearing to move toward Cranston before a single shot is fired. The defense maintains Cranston was acting in self-defense when he shot Washington.
Right after Cranston shot Washington, the cellphone footage captures Butler saying, “He fucking hit me.”
Swart told Butler in court Friday that her statement that night was incorrect, and that Washington pushed her, instead of hitting her. Swart told the jury that Butler “changed her story” in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
On the stand Friday, Butler initially insisted that Washington hit her, but eventually agreed that she was not hit, while emphasizing that she thought his actions crossed a line.
“Maybe it wasn’t the right choice of words, but in that moment I felt violated,” Butler said.
Swart also pointed out that Washington punched Cranston nearly 30 seconds before he was shot. Prosecutors honed in on that time gap during opening statements to insist that Cranston was not acting in self defense.
Swart repeatedly referenced Butler’s earlier testimony before a grand jury, seeming to imply that bits of her testimony on Friday contradicted earlier statements she gave. For example, she said Cranston never used profane language, but Swart read earlier testimony describing the opposite.
Swart also pointed out in questioning that Butler has dated Cranston for years and is currently living with his parents.
During cross examination, defense attorney Kevin Sali asked Butler if she made up any part of her testimony to protect her fiancé, which she denied.
Sali told the court he would reserve the right to call Butler back to the stand later in the trial. Cranston’s trial is scheduled to resume Monday, when the prosecution will continue with its case.