A Washington County judge sentenced an Oregon man to 20 years in state prison Tuesday for the 2023 fatal shooting of his wife, a killing the defendant claimed occurred during a drug-induced hallucination in which he mistook the victim for a “zombie.”
Talon Gabriel Mitchell, 23, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon. The sentencing concludes a harrowing legal chapter that began in February 2023, when Mitchell opened fire on his wife, Oulaykham Mona Chopheng, inside their Beaverton apartment.
The Welfare Check and the ‘Dream State’
The case surfaced on the night of Feb. 23, 2023, when Mitchell sent a series of erratic text messages to 911 dispatchers. According to court records and statements from the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, Mitchell claimed he was “stuck in a dream” and being “controlled.”
Responding officers arrived at the apartment complex in the 1000 block of Southwest 160th Avenue to find a locked residence. For 40 minutes, police remained outside the door, hearing a dog barking and sounds from within, but Mitchell refused to emerge. Concerned for the occupants’ safety, officers eventually breached the residence to conduct a welfare check.
Inside, they discovered the body of Chopheng on a couch. She had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
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Hallucinations and Media Influence
In subsequent interviews with investigators, Mitchell admitted to consuming LSD on the morning of the shooting. He claimed he “blacked out” and woke up by the front door to find his wife dead.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Jeff MacLean revealed that Mitchell’s defense centered on a specific, drug-fueled delusion. Mitchell told authorities he believed Chopheng had become a “zombie,” a fear reportedly triggered by media reports regarding a skin virus in Philadelphia that caused visible infections.
“He had that in his head,” MacLean stated, noting that the combination of hallucinogens and access to high-powered firearms led to the tragedy. Mitchell admitted to owning both a handgun and the shotgun used in the slaying.
Judicial Outcome and Restitution
While Mitchell initially faced more severe charges, the plea to first-degree manslaughter reflects the “reckless” nature of the conduct under the influence of controlled substances. In addition to the 20-year prison term, the judge ordered Mitchell to pay $23,000 in restitution to Chopheng’s family to cover costs associated with the tragedy.
The prosecution described the victim as a “beautiful young woman” whose life was cut short by entirely preventable circumstances.
