On a summer evening in Portland, Oregon, the life of Mitchell Jay Nacoste, a 31-year-old Black / African American male, was cut short by gunfire. The incident, which occurred on June 6, 2021, unfolded at Nacoste's residence in the Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood. When police responded to reports of a shooting at the home on Southeast Boise Street, they discovered a grim scene with four men deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.
The investigation revealed that the violent encounter was
the result of an attempted marijuana robbery that escalated into a gun battle. Among the deceased were Nacoste and his 27-year-old half-brother, Kendall Preston Gragg. The other two men who lost their lives were 24-year-old Donavon Lenford and 23-year-old Eyion Willis, who had traveled to Portland from Texas. All four deaths were officially ruled as homicides by gunshot.
In the months following the deadly shootout, the investigation continued, leading authorities across state lines. In March 2022, a suspect was apprehended in Frisco, Texas. Jeremy Michael Lenoire, 27, was arrested by a team of law enforcement officers, including Portland Police detectives and U.S. Marshals. He was subsequently indicted on multiple charges related to the quadruple homicide and awaited extradition back to Oregon to face legal proceedings for his alleged role in the fatal gunfight.
