Do you know who murdered Richard \A.J.\ Epps in 1990? In the early morning hours of December 8, 1990, the quiet of a Portland, Oregon neighborhood was broken by the sound of popping noises. A resident near the intersection of SE Harney and 65th Avenue peered out their window around 4:40 a.m. to see a gray van parked on the street. Moments later, a small car was seen speeding away from the location. This fleeting observation would be the only initial clue in the violent death of 33-year-old Richard “A.J.” Epps, an African-American man.
Later that morning, around 7 a.m., police were called to the scene and discovered Epps deceased in front of his van.
Investigators determined that Richard Epps had been shot to death. As they delved into his background, they learned that he was reportedly a drug user and was rumored to have been dealing drugs around the time of his murder. It was also reported that he associated with known criminals and drug users, opening up a complex web of potential motives and suspects for law enforcement to untangle. The investigation was hampered by a lack of direct witnesses to the shooting itself, leaving them to piece together the events of that fatal morning.
The primary lead in the case was the description of the vehicle seen leaving the scene. Witnesses described it as a small, light brown Ford Maverick, possibly a hatchback, with a lighter-colored vinyl top. The car was last seen driving westbound on SE Harney Street. Despite this information, the case grew cold over the years. No arrests have ever been made in the murder of Richard Epps, and his death remains an unsolved homicide. The identity of the person or persons in the Ford Maverick and the specific motive for the shooting are still unknown.
