Breauna Yvonne White, a 30-year-old Black/African American woman, was tragically killed on the morning of May 5, 2021, in her North Portland apartment. A mother of two, she was a dedicated TriMet bus operator, known for her kindness and care. On that Wednesday, around 10:40 a.m., police responded to reports of shots fired in the Cathedral Park neighborhood. When they arrived at the apartment near North Willamette Boulevard and Charleston Avenue, they found Breauna deceased.
The medical examiner later confirmed that she had died from gunshot wounds.
Described by her family as a vibrant person who loved to make people laugh and dance, Breauna's death was a profound shock to her loved ones. She was a hardworking mother, holding down two jobs to provide for her son and daughter. Her cousin remembered her as a survivor and expressed a belief that she had been a victim of domestic violence. Her employer, TriMet, released a statement mourning the loss of a valued employee who was a public servant committed to her riders.
The investigation into her death quickly led police to identify a suspect: her 30-year-old boyfriend, Henry Deondrae Brogdon. A warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. Brogdon had fled after the shooting, but a manhunt was initiated. Later that month, on May 21, 2021, U.S. Marshals located and arrested him in Tyler, Texas.
After his extradition to Oregon, Henry Brogdon faced legal proceedings for the murder of Breauna White. In January 2024, nearly three years after her death, Brogdon accepted a plea deal to avoid a trial. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder. As a result of the plea agreement, he was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. The resolution of the criminal case brought a measure of closure to a community and family devastated by the violent loss of a beloved mother, daughter, and friend.
