Who murdered 22 year old Derrick Shepherd? On a Wednesday evening, September 16, 1981, the life of a young African-American man, Derrick Shepherd, was tragically cut short at the age of 22. Shepherd was discovered lying near the driver's side door of his car near the intersection of Northwest 6th Avenue and Couch Street in Portland, Oregon. A concerned citizen who found him quickly sought help from a local business to alert the police.
Emergency services arrived at the scene and transported Shepherd to a nearby hospital.
He was suffering from severe stab wounds and, despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after his arrival. The incident was ruled a homicide, launching an investigation into the circumstances that led to his death.
During their investigation, police learned that Shepherd was known to be a petty criminal who was involved in selling imitation narcotics. It is believed that this activity may have been connected to the events that transpired on the night of his death. An argument was reportedly witnessed between Shepherd and another man just before the stabbing occurred.
Authorities have described a suspect in the case as an unidentified African-American male. He is estimated to be around 5 feet 6 inches tall and to weigh approximately 140 pounds. Despite this description, no arrests have ever been made in connection with the murder of Derrick Shepherd. His case remains an unsolved cold case, a painful lingering mystery for his family and the community. Law enforcement continues to seek information that might lead to a breakthrough and bring closure to a case that has remained open for decades.
