Do you know who killed Ruby Denise McLemore in 1989? In the winter of 1989, a young African-American woman named Ruby Denise McLemore’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 21. On the evening of January 15th, in Portland, Oregon, the sounds of what was believed to be gunshots pierced the night on Northeast Holman Street. A resident, drawn by the noise, discovered McLemore lying in the street. She was still alive but unable to communicate what had happened to her.
The resident quickly called for help and tried to comfort her with a blanket as they awaited the arrival of emergency services.
By the time paramedics reached the scene, Ruby McLemore had stopped breathing. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced deceased. An autopsy would later confirm that her death was the result of a single gunshot wound to her torso. At the time of her death, she was wearing a black beret, a black leather jacket over a sweatshirt, white pants, and leg warmers. Investigators were able to identify her through identification found at the scene.
The investigation into her murder remains open, a cold case that has puzzled authorities for decades. A significant lead emerged about a month after her death when an anonymous caller contacted the Portland Police Bureau's Crime Stoppers tip line. The individual claimed to have witnessed the shooting and inquired about a reward. However, despite promising to call back and speak with the lead investigator, the witness was never heard from again, leaving a frustrating void in the case.
To this day, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with the murder of Ruby McLemore. The Portland Police Bureau's Cold Case Homicide Unit continues to seek information from the public, hoping that someone will come forward with the missing piece of the puzzle that will finally bring justice for Ruby and her family. A cash reward is still being offered for any information that leads to an arrest in this unsolved crime.
