A peaceful Saturday afternoon in Northwest Portland was shattered by tragedy when 39-year-old Krystal Lynne Pendergraph was found shot to death inside a parked car—an act of violence that has left family, friends, and the wider community reeling.
Portland police say officers responded around 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 11, 2025, to a welfare check near Northwest Kearney Street between Northwest 21st and 23rd Avenues.
When they arrived, they discovered Pendergraph unresponsive in the driver’s seat, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite first responders’ efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities immediately launched a homicide investigation, sealing off the normally bustling street as forensic teams combed through evidence. Investigators believe the shooting occurred sometime before the welfare call, though they have not yet identified a suspect or motive.
“This is a devastating loss for our community,” said Portland Police Bureau spokesperson Lt. Nathan Sherrod. “We are committed to bringing justice for Krystal and her loved ones.”
A Life Remembered
Pendergraph’s family describes her as radiant, compassionate, and endlessly giving—a woman whose presence brightened every room she entered.
“She taught me so much—her elegance, her grace, her kindness, her compassion,” said her niece, Wiley Tillman, in an interview with KPTV. “She was a friend to everyone. She could make a friend in seconds. She was just a beautiful spirit.”
On Monday evening, grief turned into remembrance as dozens gathered for a candlelight vigil at the site where her body was found. Under the soft glow of candles, family and neighbors prayed, shared stories, and demanded answers.
“Krystal had a laugh that could light up the darkest room,” one relative told reporters. “She didn’t deserve this. We need justice.”
A City Confronting Its Pain
Pendergraph’s death marks Portland’s 36th homicide of 2025—a sobering reminder that, even as the city sees a decline in killings compared to the previous year, gun violence continues to scar families and neighborhoods.
The Black Femicide Prevention Coalition, an advocacy group focused on violence against Black women, issued a statement urging city officials to take stronger action.
“Portland must confront the rising tide of violence against Black women,” the coalition said. “Krystal’s story is not isolated—it’s part of a deeper crisis that demands accountability and change.”
The Investigation
Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses and have issued a public appeal for witnesses or anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area that afternoon.
Crime Stoppers of Oregon is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with details is asked to contact the Portland Police Bureau Homicide Unit at 503-823-0070 or submit anonymous tips by calling 503-823-HELP (4357).
As flowers pile up beside the curb where her car once sat, the grief of a community deepens. Krystal Pendergraph’s loved ones continue to wait—for answers, for justice, and for a measure of peace.
