In the late hours of May 5, 2026, the sounds of gunfire shattered the relative calm near downtown Portland's Tom McCall Waterfront Park. When police arrived at the scene near Southwest Naito Parkway and Southwest Harvey Milk Street at approximately 10:36 p.m., they discovered two men suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the men, 25-year-old Malachi Bussey, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The second victim, who has not been publicly identified, was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The shooting occurred just as a Cinco de Mayo festival held at the waterfront park was concluding. Witnesses described a scene of panic and fear as the loud bangs, later confirmed to be gunshots, rang out, causing people to flee the area. While the shooting happened near the festival grounds, officials have stated that it did not occur within the event's perimeter. One of the injured individuals reportedly ran toward the festival grounds seeking help, where event staff provided first aid until emergency responders arrived. The family of Malachi Bussey, while requesting privacy, provided a photograph of him for public release. The Oregon State Medical Examiner later confirmed that Bussey's death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound.
As of now, the investigation into the death of Malachi Bussey is ongoing, and no arrests have been made. The suspect or suspects reportedly fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. Detectives from the Portland Police Bureau's Homicide Unit are actively investigating the circumstances that led to the shooting and have not yet confirmed if the individuals involved had attended the festival. Authorities have made a public plea for any witnesses or individuals with photos or videos from the area around the time of the shooting to come forward, emphasizing that this information could be crucial to understanding the events of that night and bringing those responsible to justice. The case remains an open and active homicide investigation with no identified suspects or motives released to the public.
