K-9 Kylo was working his final shift before retirement when police gunfire struck him during an attempted arrest on Sept. 24. The German Shepherd, about 9 years old, died after an encounter that also killed homicide suspect Eddie Brandon Todd Campbell.
Authorities have confirmed that officers’ gunfire hit Kylo, but several central questions remain unanswered. Officials have not established whether the gunshot caused his death, identified which agency fired the round or said whether Campbell fired a weapon.
From a welfare check to a fatal encounter
The events began just after 7 a.m. when Gresham police conducted a welfare check at a residence in the 17900 block of Southeast Market Street. Officers found 60-year-old Jeff Thompson fatally shot inside.
Investigators identified Campbell, a 39-year-old Portland resident, as the suspect. Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg said investigators determined that Campbell had taken Thompson’s car from the residence.
Several hours later, the car’s license plate was detected at a motel in Southeast Portland. Police said Campbell fled when officers attempted to arrest him, but officials have not provided a detailed public account of what happened immediately afterward.
Two Portland police officers and two officers from other, unidentified agencies fired their weapons during the encounter. Campbell was killed, and Kylo was injured and taken to an animal hospital, where he later died.
An initial Portland Police Bureau update said the operation involved a multiagency U.S. Marshals Service task force. The two Portland officers who fired were placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation continued.
Police recovered a .22-caliber firearm at the scene. Gullberg said it was the same type of weapon used to kill Thompson, but testing was still underway to determine whether it was the same gun.
What investigators have not established
Police Chief Bob Day declined to say whether Campbell fired during the attempted arrest. Authorities also have not identified the two outside agencies whose officers discharged their weapons or determined which agency’s gunfire struck Kylo.
The distinction between Kylo being struck and the cause of his death remains important. Officials confirmed the police gunfire but did not establish whether that injury caused his death or whether other factors contributed.
Police said the names of the officers involved and body-camera records were scheduled for release on Oct. 8. Those materials may add to the public record, but they would not by themselves replace the forensic and investigative findings needed to answer questions about the gunfire and Kylo’s death.
The bureau said its review will examine the initial response, requested resources, tactics and actions after the shooting. The case is also expected to go before a Police Review Board that includes community members, bureau personnel and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.
Once the investigation and legal process are complete, the bureau said investigative files and any grand jury transcripts will be published through its deadly-force records page. Until further findings are released, responsibility for the round that struck Kylo and the sequence that led to his death remain unresolved.
Nearly seven years of service
Kylo had served with Portland’s K-9 unit for nearly seven years. Lt. Kristi Butcher, who oversees the unit, said he completed 139 captures during that time.
Butcher also recalled a distinctive habit from his working life. “He would also howl at the high pitch of the siren,” she said.
Day said officials believed Kylo changed the outcome of the operation. “We believe that Kylo’s actions saved lives that day,” the chief said.
That assessment stands alongside the unanswered questions. Kylo reached his scheduled final shift with a documented record of 139 captures, but he did not reach retirement, and authorities had not fully explained how police gunfire came to strike him.
What would you do if your dog were in this situation? Share your thoughts in the comments.
By Sarah Mitchell — 8 years as a local-news reporter covering animal welfare, shelters, neighborhood disputes, and public-safety pet stories.
