In the summer of 2014, a promising young life was abruptly cut short on the streets of Southeast Portland. Paul William Krekeler, a 19-year-old Caucasian male, was a beloved friend and a star player on a local semi-pro football team, known for his leadership and encouraging spirit. His friends remember him as someone with an incredibly loving heart and a strong will, a person who would take friends under his wing and protect them.
On the night of July 22, 2014, just before 11 p.m., the
sound of gunshots shattered the peace in the Woodstock neighborhood. Residents near the intersection of Southeast 57th Avenue and Harold Street reported hearing the gunfire. When police officers from the East Precinct arrived at the scene, they found Paul Krekeler lying in a yard, deceased. An autopsy later confirmed that he had died from a gunshot wound to the chest, and his death was ruled a homicide. Investigators believe he was running north on 57th Avenue when he was shot and collapsed.
In the immediate aftermath and for years to come, the investigation into Paul's murder has yielded few answers. Witnesses reported seeing a white truck or SUV leaving the area heading south on 57th Avenue shortly after the gunshots, but authorities have not been able to confirm if the vehicle was connected to the shooting. To this day, the motive for the killing remains unknown, and no arrests have ever been made in the case. The case grew cold, at one point being handled by a cold case unit that was later temporarily disbanded due to staffing shortages within the Portland Police Bureau.
Despite the passage of time, Paul's family and friends have not given up hope for justice. A memorial of balloons and photos often marks the spot where he lost his life, a testament to a community that still mourns his loss. Law enforcement officials continue to ask for the public's help, and Crime Stoppers of Oregon has offered a cash reward for any information that leads to an arrest. The case of Paul William Krekeler remains an unsolved homicide, a painful open wound for his loved ones who are still searching for closure a decade later.
