In the early morning hours of October 1, 2020, tragedy struck in Northeast Portland when 38-year-old Michael Epps Jr., a Black male, was found shot to death. The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 a.m. near Northeast 111th Avenue and Sandy Boulevard. When Portland Police Bureau officers responded to a 9-1-1 call about a shooting, they discovered Epps deceased at the scene.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner later confirmed that the cause of death was a gunshot wound, ruling it a homicide.
The investigation into Epps's death led authorities to identify a suspect, Quentin Blackmon. Subsequently, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office announced that Blackmon was facing several charges, including second-degree murder with a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon with a firearm, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with Epps's killing. During the course of their investigation, law enforcement also linked Blackmon to a separate shooting that had taken place on August 24, 2020, at the same location, resulting in additional charges of attempted murder. Blackmon's legal proceedings for the murder of Michael Epps Jr. have been complex, resulting in three mistrials. However, in a separate case, Blackmon was convicted in May 2024 for a fatal carjacking that occurred in August 2020 and was sentenced to nearly 24 years in prison for that crime. His trial for the murder of Michael Epps Jr. was scheduled to begin in September 2024.
A tragic and violent turn of events unfolded on the evening of Epps's death. During a vigil being held for him at the same location where he was killed, another shooting occurred around 7:45 p.m. This incident resulted in the death of an uninvolved individual, Jimmy Lee Melton. It was later revealed that Epps's brother, Marquise Epps, believing Quentin Blackmon was present, began shooting at him. A stray bullet from this exchange struck and killed Melton. Marquise Epps later pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter for his role in Melton's death and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
