In the early morning of July 19, 1998, 27-year-old Ausencio Genchi Garcia was found dead outside the El Moro apartments at 2016 SE 122nd Ave in Portland, Oregon. Police responded to multiple 911 calls about 2:30 a.m.; an autopsy confirmed Garcia died of gunshot wounds. He had been attending a party at the complex and worked at a vegetable company in Portland. Garcia was described as not violent and without a criminal record.

Investigators reported a tense confrontation shortly before the shooting between a large group of Hispanic individuals and several African American males, and they believe Garcia was a random victim of the violence. The case remained unsolved for years and was treated as one of Portland’s cold cases.

In November 2019 federal authorities returned a major indictment alleging Hoover Criminal Gang involvement and naming Lorenzo Laron Jones in connection with Garcia’s murder. Does anyone have information about Garcia, the July 1998 gathering, or witnesses from that night?