Nathaniel Acosta

Nathaniel Mateo Acosta, a 24-year-old White male from Yelm, Washington, was known to his loved ones as a "gentle giant." Standing six feet four inches tall, he was described as a talented, caring, and protective son, brother, and uncle. He had a passion for music and could play any song he heard on the guitar or ukulele. Nathaniel grew up in the Tacoma area and was good with his hands, enjoying drawing, writing, and philosophy. He was working to pay off loans with the goal of attending college to become an emergency medical technician, and he dreamed of one day starting a family.

On the afternoon of April 17, 2020, Nathaniel was shot and killed at the Gold Club, an adult entertainment venue located on McLoughlin Boulevard in an unincorporated area of Clackamas County, Oregon. The club was closed to the public for renovations, and Nathaniel was there doing odd jobs. The shooting occurred sometime before 3 p.m. When Clackamas County sheriff's deputies responded to the scene, they found Nathaniel deceased.

The investigation led to the arrest of 25-year-old Ryan Ted Newman, Jr. According to Nathaniel's mother, Newman was the son of one of the club's co-owners. There was also a distant family connection, as Newman's father was the boyfriend's stepfather of Nathaniel's sister. Initial reports stated that both men had been at the club doing construction work.

Prosecutors charged Ryan Ted Newman, Jr. with second-degree murder in the death of Nathaniel Acosta. He was also charged with attempting to murder another person at the scene, Wan Chen Vue. As of April 2020, Newman was being held without bail.