Jeff Thompson, a 60-year-old man from Gresham, Oregon, has died after being found with a fatal gunshot wound inside a residence, according to authorities.
Thompson was discovered dead during a welfare check at a home in the 17900 block of SE Market Street in Gresham on Thursday morning, September 24, 2026. Police have opened a homicide investigation into his death.
Jeff Thompson Death Confirmed in Gresham
Gresham police officers went to the residence after receiving a call that prompted a welfare check. Once inside, officers found Thompson suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators from the Gresham Police Department and the East County Major Crimes Team began working to determine what happened and identify the person responsible.
Authorities later identified Thompson publicly as the victim.
Jeff Thompson at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Jeff Thompson |
| Age | 60 |
| Residence | Gresham, Oregon |
| Date found dead | September 24, 2026 |
| Location | SE Market Street, Gresham |
| Cause of death | Fatal gunshot wound |
| Manner under investigation | Homicide |
| Investigating agencies | Gresham Police Department and East County Major Crimes Team |
What Happened to Jeff Thompson?
According to investigators, Thompson’s death triggered a major search for a homicide suspect.
Police used public-safety camera systems, including cameras recently installed around Vance Park, along with automatic license plate reader information to help track the person they believed was responsible.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force eventually located the suspect near a motel around SE 97th Avenue and SE Oak Street in Portland.
Investigation Leads to Fatal Portland Police Shooting
The search for Thompson’s suspected killer later ended in a separate deadly confrontation with law enforcement.
Police attempted to arrest the suspect in southeast Portland after locating him near the motel. The suspect fled, and a shooting followed.
The suspect was killed during the police encounter, as was Portland Police Bureau K9 officer Kylo.
The Portland Police Bureau’s Homicide Investigation Unit is examining the circumstances surrounding that police shooting, while Gresham police and the East County Major Crimes Team continue investigating Thompson’s death.
Cause of Death
Authorities identified the immediate cause of Thompson’s death as a gunshot wound.
Police are treating the death as a homicide. Further details about the circumstances of the shooting, including what led to the killing and the relationship, if any, between Thompson and the suspect, had not been publicly established in the latest reports.
Family and Personal Life
Public information about Thompson’s family, occupation and personal background remains limited as the investigation develops.
Authorities have not released additional biographical information beyond identifying him as a 60-year-old Gresham resident.
More details may become available as investigators continue their work and relatives or friends make statements.
Two Investigations Underway
The incident has resulted in two separate but connected investigations.
The Gresham Police Department and East County Major Crimes Team are investigating the circumstances surrounding Thompson’s death.
Meanwhile, Portland police are investigating the subsequent officer-involved shooting that resulted in the deaths of the suspect and K9 Kylo.
Officials are expected to release additional information as the investigations progress.
Community Awaits More Answers
Thompson’s death has become part of a rapidly developing investigation that moved from a homicide scene in Gresham to a deadly police encounter in Portland within the same day.
While authorities have identified Thompson as the homicide victim, many questions surrounding the circumstances of his death remain under investigation.
Additional information about the case, including the sequence of events leading to the shooting and the identities of everyone involved, may be released as investigators complete their work.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information released by law enforcement and current local news reporting available on September 25, 2026. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional facts may emerge. Details concerning motive, relationships and other circumstances should not be treated as established unless confirmed by authorities.