In the late hours of Thursday, January 25, 2024, a grim discovery was made in a parking lot in Southeast Portland's Buckman neighborhood. Responding to a welfare check call around 9:40 p.m. near Southeast Water Avenue, Portland Police Bureau officers found the body of Wade A. Langford, a 31-year-old White/Caucasian male from Gresham. Langford had sustained a fatal gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The medical examiner later confirmed that he died of homicide by gunshot wound.
The initial investigation revealed that the suspect, or suspects, had fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. As a result, no immediate arrests were made in connection with the shooting. The Portland Police Homicide Unit is leading the ongoing investigation into Langford's death. To aid in their investigation, authorities closed off Southeast Water Avenue between Southeast Salmon and Southeast Madison streets to process the scene for evidence.
As of now, the case remains unsolved, and no suspects have been publicly identified or taken into custody. The Portland Police Bureau has appealed to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case. Detectives have provided contact information for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any relevant details concerning the death of Wade Langford. His family, who have requested privacy, provided a photograph of him for public release.
