In the early morning hours of December 5, 2021, a grim discovery was made in the Cully neighborhood of Northeast Portland. A vehicle had crashed into a power pole at the intersection of Northeast Portland Highway and Northeast 45th Avenue. Inside, authorities found the body of 30-year-old Silas High Hawk, a male member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. The initial crash scene soon revealed a more sinister story.
Upon further investigation, the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office determined
that High Hawk had not died from the crash but from a gunshot wound. His death was subsequently ruled a homicide. Portland police detectives began an investigation into the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting. The area around the crash site was temporarily closed as authorities, including the Portland Police Major Crash Team, processed the scene for evidence.
In the days following the discovery, the Portland Police Bureau publicly identified Silas High Hawk as the victim and released a photograph provided by his family. Investigators appealed to the public for any information regarding the case. However, no arrests have been announced, and authorities have not released any information about a potential suspect or suspects in the shooting death of Silas High Hawk. The investigation into his death remains ongoing.
