Do you know who killed Melvin Whitaker, Jr in 2007?
On the evening of April 28, 2007, Melvin Whitaker Jr., a Black male, was at his sister's apartment at 12621 Lincoln Ave SW in Lakewood, Washington. He informed his sister and others that he was going for a walk. Shortly after, a single gunshot echoed through the area. Whitaker was discovered in the northeast corner of the parking lot, near a large dumpster, having been shot once in the chest with what was believed to be a small-caliber firearm.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing an older model gray Ford Taurus, conspicuous by a lighter-colored door, speeding away from the parking lot immediately following the sound of the gunshot. Inside the vehicle, they observed a passenger described as a Black male, estimated to be between 30 and 40 years old, with a beard and glasses. Despite the witness accounts, no one was able to identify the car's license plate number, nor did they recognize the vehicle or its occupants.
The investigation into the death of Melvin Whitaker Jr. was launched, but despite the initial leads, the case grew cold. Law enforcement has not publicly identified any suspects in the years that have followed, and no arrests have been made in connection with his murder. The shooting is officially classified as an unsolved homicide, and the Lakewood Police Department continues to list it as an active investigation. The motive for the shooting remains unknown, leaving a lingering mystery surrounding the violent end to a man's life in a quiet apartment complex parking lot.
