Portland police say Johnson Creek homicide victim died by gunshot as investigation continues without arrests

Newly released cause-of-death detail narrows timeline for unsolved killing in Southeast Portland

Portland police have released new information in the homicide investigation involving a man found submerged in Johnson Creek in late 2025, identifying a gunshot wound as the cause of death.

The victim was identified as Jamal Rodgers, 32. Officers were called at about 1:15 a.m. on Dec. 30, 2025, to a report of a body in Johnson Creek near Southeast 102nd Avenue and Southeast Foster Road, in the Lents area. The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team recovered the body. The Medical Examiner later determined Rodgers’ death was a homicide and, in the newly disclosed detail, attributed the death to a gunshot.

The Portland Police Bureau’s Homicide Unit continues to lead the investigation. Police have reported no arrests and have not described a suspect, motive, or a specific timeframe for when the shooting occurred. Investigators also have not indicated whether the shooting happened near the creek or whether Rodgers’ body may have been moved before it was discovered.

What is known so far

• Date found: Dec. 30, 2025, shortly after 1 a.m.

• Location: Johnson Creek near Southeast 102nd Avenue and Southeast Foster Road

• Victim: Jamal Rodgers, 32

• Cause and manner of death: Homicide; cause determined to be gunshot

• Status: No arrests announced; case remains under investigation

Anyone with information about the case is asked to reference case number 25-354714 when contacting investigators.

Why the update matters

While Rodgers’ death had previously been classified as a homicide, the confirmation that he was shot clarifies an important element investigators typically use to prioritize leads, seek witness accounts, and compare the case against other reports of gunfire. Police have not said how many times Rodgers was shot, what type of firearm was used, or whether ballistic evidence has been recovered.

Rodgers’ family has been notified, and police have said the family has requested privacy. Investigators are continuing to seek tips from the public as they work to reconstruct the events that led to Rodgers’ death and his subsequent discovery in the creek.