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Portland police say the person found shot in Southeast Portland on January 26 was 17-year-old Kenneth Smith III of Portland. Detectives are still asking anyone with information to contact homicide investigators.
Photo: Portland Police Bureau
This update summarizes the reported event and explains the practical legal context Oregon readers may want to understand. It is general information, not case-specific legal advice.
Published February 2, 2026
Portland police have identified the person found dead after a shooting in Southeast Portland on January 26, 2026, as Kenneth Smith III, 17, of Portland. Police said his family has been notified and asked for privacy.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, officers and medics responded around 2:32 a.m. near Southeast 134th Avenue and Southeast Harold Street after a report of a person who was not breathing. When AMR arrived, responders found a person with gunshot wounds. Despite lifesaving efforts, the person was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Medical Examiner ruled Smith’s death a homicide caused by a gunshot wound. Police said detectives with the Homicide Unit responded to the scene and that traffic in the surrounding area was affected during the investigation.
Investigators are still asking for tips. Anyone with information is asked to contact homicidetips@police.portlandoregon.gov (opens in a new tab) and reference case number 26-24603.
For families facing a homicide loss, records from police, the medical examiner, and first responders can matter later in a wrongful death claim. Those records help document what happened, who responded, and what evidence was collected in the first hours after the shooting.
Source reporting used to prepare this update and preserve citation transparency.
Insurance calls, medical bills, missed work, and uncertainty tend to arrive at the same time. The first job is to steady the situation: understand the facts, preserve useful records, and talk through the legal options that fit your Oregon injury claim.
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