On the evening of August 26, 2026, the life of 35-year-old Colton A. Mincey was tragically cut short in Portland, Oregon. The incident unfolded on the Eastbank Esplanade near the Hawthorne Bridge, a popular path for cyclists and pedestrians along the Willamette River. Around 8:56 p.m., a patrolling Portland Police officer was flagged down by witnesses who reported hearing what sounded like gunshots.
Upon investigation, the officer discovered Mincey deceased on the multi-use path.
The initial investigation by the Portland Police Homicide Unit determined that the suspect or suspects had fled the scene before law enforcement arrived, and no immediate arrests were made. The Eastbank Esplanade was temporarily closed as detectives processed the scene for evidence. The medical examiner later confirmed that Colton A. Mincey's death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound. In the days following the shooting, police publicly identified Mincey and appealed to the community for any information that could lead to the identification and apprehension of those responsible. His family, while requesting privacy, provided a photograph of him for public release.
Despite the public appeal and ongoing investigation, information regarding any specific suspects or arrests in the murder of Colton A. Mincey has not been released. The case remains an active and open investigation, with authorities urging anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward. The narrative of this case, as it stands from the available information, is one of a sudden and violent death that left a community seeking answers and a family mourning the loss of a loved one. The overview of the case is that of an unsolved homicide, where the perpetrator or perpetrators remain at large, and the quest for justice for Colton A. Mincey continues.
