In the summer of 2021, on the evening of Thursday, June 17th, a burst of violence shattered the peace in Northeast Portland. Near the intersection of Northeast Glisan Street and 74th Avenue, a 36-year-old Black / African American man named William Kendrick was shot. In the immediate aftermath, Kendrick was rushed to a local hospital. The severity of his injuries necessitated a transfer to another medical facility equipped to provide more intensive care.
Despite the prolonged and valiant efforts of medical personnel, William Kendrick succumbed to his wounds. The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that his death was a homicide caused by a gunshot.
For years, the case of William Kendrick's death remained a painful, open wound for his family and friends. Homicide detectives from the Portland Police Bureau took charge of the investigation, securing the crime scene and appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the person or persons responsible. However, for a long time, there was no suspect information released, and no arrests were made, leaving a void of uncertainty and a thirst for justice. Kendrick's loved ones gathered annually at a memorial they built for him at the site of the shooting, keeping his memory alive and holding onto hope that his killer would one day be found.
After what felt like an eternity to those who knew and loved him, a breakthrough in the investigation finally came. More than four years after that fateful night, an arrest was made. Dandre Willis was taken into custody and charged with the murder of William Kendrick. The news of the arrest brought a wave of relief and a renewed sense of hope to Kendrick's family and friends, who had been waiting for this day for so long. The arraignment of Dandre Willis marked the beginning of a new chapter in their long journey for justice, a first step towards holding someone accountable for the senseless act of violence that took William Kendrick from their lives.
