Do you know who killed Phong Ngoc Truong in 1996?
On the evening of September 23, 1996, a young Asian man named Phong Ngoc Truong, aged 20, was fatally shot in Portland, Oregon. The incident occurred at approximately 9:35 p.m. outside the Viet Ha Restaurant, located at 5810 NE Sandy Boulevard. When police officers arrived at the scene following reports of gunfire, they discovered Truong lying deceased on the sidewalk from a gunshot wound.
Witnesses at the scene provided a description of a potential suspect they saw running from the area shortly after the shots were fired. They described an Asian male, estimated to be between 18 and 25 years old, standing about 5'6" to 5'7" tall and weighing between 140 and 150 pounds. He was reportedly wearing a black baseball cap, a mid-length black coat over a white T-shirt, and dark, knee-length shorts. The individual was last seen fleeing south on NE 58th Avenue.
In addition to the suspect, witnesses also reported seeing a mid-1980s Mercury Caprice leaving the vicinity shortly after the shooting. It was noted that the vehicle might have had something, possibly a muffler, dragging from underneath. A distinct feature of the car was a black horizontal stripe between its rear taillights. Authorities believed the occupants of this vehicle may have witnessed the shooting.
Despite the witness accounts and the description of the suspect and the vehicle, no arrests have been made in the case, and it remains an unsolved homicide. The Portland Police Cold Case Unit continues to seek information from the public that could lead to a breakthrough in the investigation.
