Thomas Hammond, 66, was shot and killed on the evening of August 20, 2020, near the Grotto in Northeast Portland. Officers found him deceased along Northeast Skidmore Street after responding to reports of a shooting. Investigators described the incident as a stranger-on-stranger homicide that occurred during a carjacking.

Portland police later arrested 43-year-old Quentin Blackmon on October 2, 2020, initially for a probation violation. Homicide detectives and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office linked him to Hammond’s death and a grand jury returned multiple indictments including Murder in the First Degree, Robbery in the First Degree, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Blackmon remained in custody following his arrest.

A jury found Blackmon guilty on several counts related to Hammond’s death, including first-degree manslaughter, first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon with a firearm, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and felon in possession of a firearm; sentencing was scheduled for May 2024. Anyone with information about Hammond or that evening near the Grotto is asked to come forward.