On the evening of March 2, 2000, a young Black/African American man named Henry Jay Johnson, aged 21, was found dead in Portland, Oregon. The discovery was made after police responded to reports of shots fired in the area of Northeast Rodney Avenue and Northeast Failing Street at approximately 8:30 p.m. Upon their arrival, officers found Johnson deceased from what was determined to be a gunshot wound.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a possible suspect fleeing the area shortly
after the shooting. The individual was described as an African-American male in his twenties, approximately 5'8" tall with a medium build. He was reportedly wearing a dark-colored or blue puffy coat with the hood up, dark pants, and tennis shoes with red shoelaces. This individual was seen heading westbound from the scene of the crime, in the direction of Unthank Park.
Despite the witness accounts and an ongoing investigation by the Portland Police Bureau, no arrests have ever been made in connection with Henry Johnson's death. The case has since become a cold case, one of many unsolved homicides from that period in the city's history. Investigators continue to seek information from the public and have expressed hope that new leads or advancements in forensic technology might one day bring a resolution to the case and provide answers for Johnson's family. The Portland Police Bureau's Cold Case Unit and Crime Stoppers of Oregon have periodically appealed to the community for any information that could lead to an arrest, offering a cash reward for tips that prove fruitful.
