On a summer afternoon in Portland, Oregon, the life of McKeever Thompson, a 23-year-old Black / African American man, was tragically cut short. On June 20, 2022, authorities were called to the 3200 block of Northeast 81st Avenue in the Roseway neighborhood. When officers arrived at approximately 1:46 p.m., they discovered McKeever deceased at the scene.
The initial death investigation soon took a more serious turn as preliminary findings indicated that his death was not due to natural causes.
Responding to these findings, the Portland Police Bureau's Homicide Unit took control of the investigation. The area around Northeast 81st Avenue was closed for hours as detectives worked to piece together the events that led to the young man's death. Later, the medical examiner would confirm the tragic reality of the situation, determining that McKeever Thompson's death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound.
Months after his death, the investigation into who was responsible remains ongoing. Law enforcement has not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the shooting. The Portland Police Bureau has appealed to the public for assistance, asking anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward and speak with detectives. In the absence of a resolution, the community is left to mourn the loss of a young life, hoping for answers in the continuing investigation.
