In the early morning hours of May 15, 2005, a life was tragically cut short in downtown Portland, Oregon. Thompson Tony Ly, a 41-year-old Asian male, was shot and killed at 1:19 a.m. on SW Yamhill Street, between SW 2nd and SW 3rd Avenue. When police officers arrived at the scene following reports of a shooting, they found Ly deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.
Witnesses at the scene provided a harrowing account of the events that transpired.
They reported seeing a gold Honda Accord, distinguished by its spinner-type wheels, leaving the area immediately after the shooting. Inside the vehicle were believed to be five occupants, described as African-American males in their 20s. According to witness statements, a passenger seated in the back on the driver's side was seen firing a gun six to seven times out of the window. A description of this individual was provided; he was reportedly wearing black sweatpants, a red and white baseball hat, and white shoes.
Despite the witness accounts and the vehicle description, the case has remained unsolved for years. The Portland Police Bureau's Cold Case Homicide Unit continues to seek information from the public that might lead to a breakthrough in the investigation. Authorities have urged anyone with knowledge of the incident, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. A cash reward has been offered through Crime Stoppers of Oregon for information that leads to an arrest in this unsolved felony crime, with the assurance that tipsters can remain anonymous. The search for those responsible for the death of Thompson Tony Ly continues, with his case file remaining open in the hopes that new leads will emerge.
