SALEM, Ore. — August 25, 2025 — Marion County Circuit Court Judge Jodie A. Bureta has sentenced 21-year-old Michael Ray Solis to 25 years in prison without the possibility of parole for Manslaughter in the First Degree and Unlawful Use of a Firearm.
The case stems from a July 1, 2023 shooting on Silverton Road NE that left 34-year-old Steven Michael Hill dead. Witnesses reported seeing three men fleeing the area, and investigators later identified Solis as the shooter through surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts, and his own admission.
Solis, associated with the 18th Street gang, had no prior relationship with Hill, who bore tattoos linked to a rival Native American gang. Days after the killing, Solis was detained at the St. Paul Rodeo when a handgun slipped from his clothing — later confirmed as the weapon used in the homicide. He was arrested on July 17, 2023.
The sentence was reached in consultation with Hill’s family, who sought a guaranteed conviction over a drawn-out trial and appeals process. “This ensures the same minimum incarceration length as murder and provides certainty and peace for the family,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Brendan Murphy.
The Marion County District Attorney’s Office credited the “relentless work” of Salem Police detectives and the Sheriff’s Office in securing the conviction.
