Who murdered 20 year old Joseph Littlejohn in 1996? On the evening of May 13, 1996, a burst of gunfire shattered the night in a Northeast Portland neighborhood, claiming the life of Joseph Littlejohn, a 20-year-old African-American man. The incident occurred at approximately 10:20 p.m. in the basement of a residence located on the 3800 block of NE 17th Avenue. Littlejohn was with an associate at the time when shots were fired through a window from outside.
While Littlejohn was fatally struck and died at the scene, his associate
miraculously escaped unharmed. Authorities later reported that Littlejohn was known to be a member of the Crips gang. The sudden violence left a void and a lingering sense of unease in the community. The promising life of a young man, known to some as "Peanut," was tragically cut short.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, witnesses reported seeing two unidentified African-American men, estimated to be in their late teens to mid-twenties, running from the area. Despite this lead, no arrests were ever made in connection with the murder. The case eventually went cold, leaving Littlejohn's family and friends without answers or a sense of justice. The investigation remains open, a lingering echo of a violent night that ended a young life far too soon.
