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'''Michael Forest Reinoehl''' was an American shot dead by [[United States Marshals Service|U.S. Marshals]] and [[FBI]] agents on the evening of September 3, 2020, near [[Lacey, Washington]]. Reinoehl, who described himself as an [[anti-fascist]] and had participated in the [[George Floyd protests in Portland, Oregon]], was a suspect in the [[Killing of Aaron Danielson]] in Portland five days earlier. Officers approached Reinoehl as he left an apartment and approached a car. Reinoehl allegedly drew a weapon; it is unclear whether he fired it. Officers fired at Reinoehl, killing him. No officers were injured in the incident.
'''Michael Forest Reinoehl''' was an American shot dead by [[United States Marshals Service|U.S. Marshals]] and [[FBI]] agents on the evening of September 3, 2020, near [[Lacey, Washington]]. Reinoehl, who described himself as a proponent of [[Antifa (United States)|Antifa]] and had participated in the [[George Floyd protests in Portland, Oregon]], was a suspect in the [[Killing of Aaron Danielson]] in Portland five days earlier. Officers approached Reinoehl as he left an apartment and approached a car. Reinoehl allegedly drew a weapon; it is unclear whether he fired it. Officers fired at Reinoehl, killing him. No officers were injured in the incident.


==Background==
==Background==

Revision as of 00:56, 8 September 2020

Michael Forest Reinoehl was an American shot dead by U.S. Marshals and FBI agents on the evening of September 3, 2020, near Lacey, Washington. Reinoehl, who described himself as a proponent of Antifa and had participated in the George Floyd protests in Portland, Oregon, was a suspect in the Killing of Aaron Danielson in Portland five days earlier. Officers approached Reinoehl as he left an apartment and approached a car. Reinoehl allegedly drew a weapon; it is unclear whether he fired it. Officers fired at Reinoehl, killing him. No officers were injured in the incident.

Background

Portland protests

In the weeks and months prior to Reinoehl's killing, Portland hosted significant protests against police violence and racism in the United States, and confrontations between protesters and supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump.[1][2] Activists clashing in Portland have used paint balls, bear spray, fireworks and other objects.[3] Portland protests have been a part of American and international protests that followed the May 2020 Killing of George Floyd.[2][1] On August 29, hundreds of Trump supporters took part in the "Trump 2020 Cruise Rally," a caravan of more than 100 cars and trucks displaying pro-Trump flags and signs, which drove through Portland and in some cases clashed with protesters.[4]

Michael Forest Reinoehl

Reinoehl, 48, lived in Clackamas, Oregon, a suburb of Portland, Oregon, and had two children.[1][5][6] He had described himself as a US Army veteran, a professional snowboarder, and an antifascist,[7] though an Army spokesperson said no records indicated that Reinoehl had been a servicemember.[8] He had also worked as a construction contractor.[9] Reinoehl's social media accounts showed that he was heavily involved in three months of protest against police violence and racism in Portland,[5][6] and he described himself as “100% ANTIFA all the way!”[8] According to Reinoehl, he helped provide security at the protests.[5] One of the principal organizers of protests in Portland described Reinoehl as a "guardian angel" for protesters.[9]

Reinoehl had also been arrested in Portland on July 5 for having a loaded gun in public; the charges were later dropped.[6] He had been shot and wounded in Portland in July, after he said that he intervened in an altercation between an older white man, who was armed, and a group of young people of color who had allegedly been harassing an older black man.[6][10] Reinoehl was wanted for failing to appear in court for a June 2020 speed racing case. He had raced his 17-year-old son on Interstate 84 at up to 111 mph, with his 11-year-old daughter as a passenger in his car. The car also contained marijuana and a loaded Glock pistol, for which Reinoehl did not have a license.[10]

Reinoehl was a suspect in the August 29 killing of right-wing counterprotester Aaron Danielson, who had earlier in the day participated in the "Trump 2020 Cruise Rally" through Portland.[3] Danielson was a supporter of the far-right group Patriot Prayer.[3][9] Danielson's killing occurred on a day of clashes and violence between Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter protesters in Portland.[8] A court document released after Reinoehl's death, a police affidavit requesting a warrant for his arrest, stated that Danielson had a loaded Glock pistol in a holster and was holding a can of bear spray and an expandable metal baton.[11] The affidavit included surveillance camera evidence showing that Reinoehl had spotted Danielson and his friend walking behind him, had hidden in a parking garage to let them walk in front of him, and then followed them, "reaching toward the pocket or pouch on his waistband," with the shooting occurring shortly after.[12][13]

In an interview with Vice, Reinoehl claimed that he acted in self defense, and said Danielson was about to stab another protester with a knife.[14][15] No knife was found on Danielson.[16] Reinoehl said that he had not turned himself in because he feared that police were collaborating with right-wing protesters, and that he might be killed in custody.[14][2][9] He told Vice that his home had been shot at and that he was being hunted.[14][2]

Law enforcement response

On September 3, Portland police issued a warrant for Reinoehl's arrest.[5] A federal fugitive task force was assembled including members of the US Marshals Service and the FBI. The task force included members of the Lakewood Police Department, the Department of Corrections in Washington State, and the Sheriff's Department of Pierce County.[17]

Shooting

Reinoehl was shot and killed by members of a federal law enforcement task force near Lacey, Washington, a suburb of Olympia, Washington, between 6:45 and 7:30 p.m. on the night of Thursday September 3.[5][17]

Members of the task for approached Reinoehl outside an apartment on a residential street, as he attempted to enter his car.[17] Lieutenant Ray Brady at the Sheriff's Department in Thurston County stated that four officers fired at Reinoehl outside an apartment after he drew a gun.[1][5] According to a senior member of the United States Department of Justice, one member of the FBI and Marshals Service task force shot and killed Reinoehl after he drew a handgun during his arrest.[9] No officers were hurt during the incident.[5]

Witness reports varied widely. One witness told The New York Times that he saw two SUVs approach the area quickly around 6:45 p.m., and then heard gunshots over a period of one and a half minutes.[17] He said that he saw a man next to a white pickup, walking backwards and appearing to hold a gun, while officers fired at him.[17] Two witnesses said that Reinoehl was in a car outside an apartment complex when two unmarked SUVs converged on Reinoehl's car.[18] Some witnesses said Reinoehl had a semi-automatic rifle and fired 40 to 50 rounds at the SUVs before officers returned fire.[18][9] Another witness said he heard 30-40 gunshots, and yet another witness said he heard 8-10.[18] Law enforcement officials did not state that Reinoehl fired at them before they returned fire, but did state that he drew a weapon.[17]

Witness video shows officers attempting to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Reinoehl.[19][18] The aftermath of the shooting was video recorded and posted on the internet.[18]

Reactions

At around the same time as Danielson's death, US President Donald Trump tweeted asking why Portland police had not arrested Danielson's "cold blooded killer," adding "Everybody knows who this thug is. No wonder Portland is going to hell!"[20] President Trump subsequently commended U.S.marshals for "strength" and "bravery."[9] U.S. Attorney General William Barr described Reinoehl as a "violent agitator"[9] and said "the tracking down of Reinoehl -- a dangerous fugitive, admitted Antifa member, and suspected murderer -- is a significant accomplishment in the ongoing effort to restore law and order to Portland and other cities".[21][2][22]

After Reinoehl's killing, hundreds of people protested outside a police station in Portland.[17] Police Lieutenant Brady said that he did not know of any footage recording Reinoehl's shooting.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Portland suspect shot dead by police during arrest". BBC. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Niemuth, Niles (5 September 2020). "Federal task force kills suspect in slaying of right-wing Trump supporter in Portland". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Bernton, Hal; Kamb, Lewis (3 September 2020). "A brief encounter, then gunshots. Now narratives fly after fatal Portland shooting". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  4. ^ Marine, Drew (August 29, 2020). "Hundreds show up for Trump 2020 Cruise Rally in Clackamas County". KPTV. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Gurman, Sadie; Carlton, Jim; Barrett, Joe (4 September 2020). "Michael Reinoehl, Suspect in Portland Shooting, Is Killed by Law Enforcement". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d Balsamo, Michael; Warren, Ted (4 September 2020). "Suspect in Portland death killed by investigators, official says". Salt Lake Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  7. ^ Hay, Andrew (3 September 2020). "Oregon man says Portland shooting was self defense". Reuters. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  8. ^ a b c Bennett, Dalton; Cahlan, Sarah; Lee, Joyce (4 September 2020). "What video analysis of the Aug. 29 Portland shooting tells us". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i MacFarquhar, Neil; Baker, Mike; Goldman, Adam (4 September 2020). "In His Last Hours, Portland Murder Suspect Said He Feared Arrest". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  10. ^ a b https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2020/09/man-under-investigation-in-fatal-shooting-of-patriot-prayer-supporter-wounded-in-july-after-trying-to-grab-gun-from-stranger.html
  11. ^ Selsky, Andrew (4 September 2020). "Portland shooting suspect and victim both had guns, documents show". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  12. ^ https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/portland-shooting-suspect-followed-right-wing-activists-after-spotting-them-downtown-unsealed-arrest-warrant-says/
  13. ^ https://abcnews.go.com/US/court-documents-detail-moments-leading-deadly-protest-shooting/story?id=72837959
  14. ^ a b c "Man Linked to Killing at a Portland Protest Says He Acted in Self-Defense". Vice News. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  15. ^ Hay, Andrew (3 September 2020). "Oregon Man says Portland Shooting was Self Defense". Reuters. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  16. ^ https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/09/04/portland-police-search-warrant-includes-new-details-about-fatal-shooting-of-aaron-danielson
  17. ^ a b c d e f g Golden, Hallie; Baker, Mike; Goldman, Adam (3 September 2020). "Suspect in Fatal Portland Shooting Is Killed by Officers During Arrest". New York Times. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  18. ^ a b c d e Block, Brandon; Rolf, Boone; Gentzler, Sara (3 September 2020). "'See all of those yellow markings. They're bullets.' Witnesses describe Reinoehl shooting". The News Tribune. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  19. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/03/us/michael-reinoehl-arrest-portland-shooting.html
  20. ^ Balsimo, Michael; Warren, Ted (September 4, 2020). "Reports: Michael Reinoehl, suspect in fatal shooting of 'Patriot Prayer' backer in Oregon, killed by federal task force". USA Today. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  21. ^ https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/04/politics/barr-antifa-safer/index.html
  22. ^ "'Tracking down' Portland shooting suspect Michael Reinoehl was 'significant accomplishment,' says U.S. attorney general William Barr". The Oregonian. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  • Affidavit submitted by Portland Police to the Oregon Circuit Court for Multnomah County, requesting an arrest warrant for Reinoehl and summarising the evidence against him (pdf format). Includes granted arrest warrant, addendum affidavit for search warrant, and granted search warrant.
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