On July 3rd, 1979, in Bend, Oregon, a man enjoying a night out on the town would be randomly gunned down for seemingly no reason at all.
Forty-nine-year-old John C. Talbott was playing pool and drinking wine at the West Side Tavern on Galveston Avenue in Bend, accompanied by his new girlfriend. The pair had been at the establishment since around seven-thirty that evening, and seemed to be having a great time.
About three hours after their arrival, as John sipped his wine, pool cue in hand, the tavern patrons heard a loud popping sound coming from the open back door of the bar. Before anyone could react, John fell backward, his hand clutching at his chest. He was rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival, the victim of a single .38 caliber bullet wound that had penetrated his lung.
The only clue police had to go on was a witness at the tavern who had heard a car door slamming and seen headlights out the back of the bar shortly after the shot. Neither motive nor assailant in the homicide was ever established.
Crime Immemorial 