On the evening of January 26, 1994, Dan Merton Thomas, 47, was shot and killed inside his North Williams Avenue home after an armed man knocked and forced entry at about 6:30 p.m. The intruder fired the fatal shot and then fled. Witnesses placed a group of young African-American males near the house minutes before the shooting and described the shooter as a young African-American teenager.

Investigators learned Thomas had a small marijuana grow operation in his basement and sometimes sold what he grew, prompting detectives to treat robbery as a likely motive for the home invasion and murder. Despite those leads and witness descriptions, no one has been arrested and the Portland Police Bureau currently lists the case as a cold case.

Anyone who knew Thomas, saw activity on North Williams Avenue that evening, or has information about the described group or the shooter is asked to come forward.