In the late hours of a Thursday, the sound of gunfire shattered the quiet of a North Portland neighborhood. On February 25, 2021, officers were dispatched to Farragut Park at 10:43 p.m. after reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, they discovered a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the efforts of paramedics, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. He was later identified as 25-year-old Curtis D.
Smith, a Black / African American male from Fresno, California.
Smith had traveled to Portland to attend the funeral of a friend. His mother, Promise Marks, described him as a talented individual who loved his family and friends and was dedicated to being a better human being. He was a father to two young daughters, who were just 4 and 5 years old at the time of his death. The medical examiner confirmed that Smith's death was a homicide caused by gunshot wounds.
The investigation into his murder has remained ongoing, yet no arrests have been made, and no suspect information has been released to the public. In an effort to generate leads, the Federal Bureau of Investigation offered a reward of up to $15,000 for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Smith's death. His family continues to seek justice and closure, left to grapple with the haunting thoughts of his final moments in a park far from home.
