Do you know who killed 17 year old David Kalamafoni? On the night of October 28, 1988, a promising life was cut short in Portland, Oregon. David Kalamafoni, a 17-year-old African-American male, found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, becoming a victim of fatal gun violence. The evening had begun with the typical vibrancy of a party, but it would end in a tragedy that left a family and a community reeling.
Around 11:30 p.m., Kalamafoni departed from the gathering and was walking towards his car located near the intersection of
Northeast 17th Avenue and Holman Street. He paused to speak with a friend who was in a nearby vehicle. It was in this seemingly ordinary moment that the sound of gunshots suddenly pierced the night air. In the ensuing confusion, it became tragically clear that Kalamafoni had been struck by a bullet.
His friend quickly drove him away from the scene, taking him to his residence. Upon their arrival, Kalamafoni's father immediately called for emergency services. He was rushed to a local hospital, but his injury was too severe. Despite the efforts of medical staff, David Kalamafoni was pronounced deceased. An autopsy would later confirm that he had died from a single gunshot wound.
In the aftermath of the shooting, many individuals who had been at the party came forward to say they heard the gunshots, but a description of the person or persons responsible remained elusive. No one could identify the shooter, and the case grew cold over the years. Law enforcement has noted that Kalamafoni was a known gang member, a detail that added a layer of complexity to the investigation. To this day, his death remains an unsolved homicide, with no arrests made and no suspects publicly identified, leaving his family with unanswered questions and a community still searching for justice.
