Who killed Henry \Shorty\ Palacios in 1992? In the early morning hours of December 5, 1992, Henry Palacios, a Hispanic male, sought to put his life back together, a life recently marred by the death of his daughter. He had checked himself into the Hooper Center and was awaiting transfer to a detox facility in Ontario, Oregon. Friends of Palacios later told investigators that he believed some drug dealers were looking for him over a sum of money they claimed he had stolen.
On that fateful morning, Palacios, also known as "Shortly,"
was given a ride to Old Town by a friend's roommate. After parking on NW 3rd Avenue, he and his friend began walking west on Burnside. As they neared 4th Avenue, their path was abruptly blocked by three Hispanic males who seemingly appeared from around a corner and immediately set upon Palacios. One of the men restrained him while another struck him in the torso.
Staggering from the blow, Henry Palacios managed to cross Burnside at 4th Avenue, continuing behind a Chevron station and then heading south on 5th Avenue. Some time later, his journey came to a tragic end. He was discovered lying on the sidewalk in the 200 block of SW 5th Avenue, having succumbed to fatal stab wounds. The three male suspects who accosted him were never apprehended, and his case remains an unsolved homicide.
