Do you know who murdered Myron Govan and Darius Martin in 2000? On the afternoon of September 28, 2000, Myron Dean Govan, an African-American male, and his adult son, Darius Mendel Martin, were standing by a vehicle outside a relative’s home in the 4700 block of N. Congress Avenue in Portland, Oregon. At approximately 3:15 p.m., their lives were tragically cut short when an unknown individual approached them and opened fire.
The assailant, without any apparent dispute preceding the attack, fired upon both men and then quickly fled the scene.
When emergency services arrived, Myron Govan was pronounced dead. His son, Darius Martin, was rushed to Emanuel Hospital but succumbed to his injuries a few hours later. The sudden violence of the act left a family shattered and a community searching for answers.
Multiple witnesses observed the shooting and provided a description of the suspect to the police. He was described as an African-American male in his twenties, standing between five-foot-nine and six feet tall, with a weight of around 180 to 200 pounds. His hair was either styled in a short afro or pulled back, and he was seen wearing gloves. A vehicle possibly connected to the suspect was identified as a two-tone, silver over dark blue Chevrolet Astro van, likely a model from between 1985 and 1987.
Despite the presence of several witnesses and a detailed description of the perpetrator, a suspect was never identified, and no arrests have been made in the case. Law enforcement officials believe that the gunman was known to the victims, but a motive for the shooting has never been established. The homicides of Myron Govan and Darius Martin remain an unsolved cold case, with their family and loved ones still awaiting justice more than two decades later. The Portland Police Bureau's Cold Case Homicide Unit continues to seek information from the public that might lead to a breakthrough in the investigation.
