Jalon Marquis Yoakum, a 33-year-old Black male, tragically lost his life on the evening of Wednesday, May 12, 2021, in Portland, Oregon. On that day, at 5:27 p.m., officers from the Portland Police Bureau's North Precinct were dispatched to the 11800 block of Northeast Sandy Boulevard in the Parkrose neighborhood after receiving reports of a shooting.
Upon their arrival, they discovered a man, later identified as Jalon Yoakum, who was already deceased at the scene.
The subsequent investigation by homicide detectives led to the closure of Northeast Sandy Boulevard between Northeast 122nd and 112th Avenues for several hours. The Oregon State Medical Examiner's office conducted an autopsy and officially ruled Yoakum's death a homicide, with the cause of death being gunshot wounds. Authorities have asked for the public's help, encouraging anyone with information about the shooting to contact the detectives assigned to the case. Despite the ongoing investigation, no arrests have been announced, and no suspect information has been released to the public. The case remains open.
Jalon, born in Portland on Easter Sunday, April 3, 1988, was a man on the verge of a new beginning. He had recently decided to pursue a career as an apprentice for the Electrical Union and was scheduled to start this new chapter of his life on Thursday, May 13, the day after he was killed. Described as a funny young man who loved his family, he had previously worked as a laborer and a manager at UPS and had explored a path in the construction industry. His sudden death left a significant void in the lives of his family and friends, who remember him as someone who was fun to be around and who loved everyone in return.
