On November 19, 2018, the city of Portland, Oregon, became the backdrop for a grim discovery that would unravel a story of random violence. Brian Hansen, a 51-year-old White / Caucasian male from Vancouver, was found deceased on the Burnside Bridge. An investigation swiftly determined that he had died from a single gunshot wound to the head. This shocking event in the heart of the city prompted an extensive and meticulous police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Surveillance footage from the area proved to be a critical piece of evidence for detectives. The video showed Hansen walking across the bridge, followed closely by an individual pulling a wheeled suitcase. A muzzle flash is visible on the recording, and the person following Hansen is then seen running away. This footage became the key to identifying a suspect in what appeared to be a senseless act of violence. The investigation was further complicated by the discovery of another homicide victim, 70-year-old Carol Horner, who was found under the Morrison Bridge the same night, also deceased from a single gunshot wound.
The individual seen in the surveillance footage following Hansen was identified as James Javontae Barquet, a 29-year-old convicted felon. Police located Barquet in the area shortly after Hansen's body was discovered, and a. 45-caliber pistol was found in his possession. Ballistic analysis confirmed that the gun found on Barquet was the same weapon used in both the murder of Brian Hansen and Carol Horner. Further investigation connected Barquet to a robbery at a Chevron station, where the wheeled suitcase seen in the surveillance video was also present.
James Javontae Barquet was arrested and charged with two counts of murder, first-degree robbery, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The legal proceedings that followed were complex, but ultimately, Barquet was held accountable for his actions. On January 26, 2022, he was sentenced to life in prison for the two counts of murder, bringing a measure of closure to the families of both Brian Hansen and Carol Horner.
