On a Sunday morning in Portland, Oregon, the life of Michael Paul Fitch, a 40-year-old Caucasian male, was tragically cut short. On March 20, 2022, in the city's Buckman neighborhood, Fitch was found deceased on a sidewalk. The cause of his death was a gunshot wound, turning a quiet weekend morning into the scene of a homicide investigation.
Portland Police Bureau officers from the Central Precinct were dispatched to the 800 block of Southeast Washington Street at 7:18 a.m.
following a report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Fitch's body. The initial investigation revealed that the suspect, or suspects, had fled the scene before law enforcement arrived, and no immediate arrests were made in connection with the shooting. Homicide detectives were called to the scene to take over the investigation.
In the days following the incident, the Portland Police Bureau publicly identified the victim as Michael Paul Fitch. They also released a photograph of him, provided by his family, in the hopes that it might generate leads from the public. The family requested privacy as they mourned their loss. As part of their investigation, police closed off several streets in the area, including portions of Southeast Washington Street, Southeast Alder Street, and Southeast 8th Avenue.
Despite the ongoing investigation, there have been no subsequent public announcements regarding any arrests made or suspects identified in the death of Michael Paul Fitch. The case remains an open and active homicide investigation, and authorities have continued to appeal to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case. Detectives have urged anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward and have provided contact information for the lead investigators.
