In the early morning hours of June 14, 1997, the life of Jamil Edward Myrick, a 16-year-old Black male, was tragically cut short by gunfire. At approximately 1:42 a.m., police officers responded to calls of a shooting in the vicinity of NE Alberta Street and NE 23rd Avenue in Portland, Oregon. Upon their arrival, they discovered Jamil, who had sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
Witnesses at the scene provided investigators with descriptions of vehicles that were present just moments before
the shooting occurred. One was an older model, white four-door sedan, described as being ragged and dirty. This car was seen speeding northbound on 23rd Avenue immediately after the incident. Another vehicle of interest was a dark-colored Chevrolet Blazer or GMC Jimmy, either blue or black, with tinted windows. A witness reported seeing an African-American male sitting in the driver's side back seat of this vehicle shortly before the shots rang out.
To date, the case remains unsolved, and no arrests have been made. Investigators believe the occupants of the described vehicles may hold crucial information about the events that transpired that night. The Portland Police Bureau's Cold Case Unit continues to seek assistance from the public, hoping that someone will come forward with details that could finally lead to the identification of a suspect or suspects in the long-unresolved death of the teenager.
