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Killings of Aaron Danielson and Michael Reinoehl

On August 29, 2020, Aaron Danielson, an American supporter of the far-right group Patriot Prayer,[1][2] was shot and killed after participating in a caravan which drove through Portland, Oregon, displaying banners and signs supporting President Donald Trump,[3] and clashing with participants in the local George Floyd protests.[3][4]

Aaron Danielson
Born
Aaron Joseph Danielson

(1980-09-04)September 4, 1980
DiedAugust 29, 2020(2020-08-29) (aged 39)
Cause of deathGunshot wound
OccupationMoving company owner
Known forKilled by Michael Reinoehl during 2020 Portland George Floyd protests
Michael Reinoehl
Born
Michael Forest Reinoehl

(1972-05-17)May 17, 1972
DiedSeptember 3, 2020(2020-09-03) (aged 48)
Cause of deathGunshot wound
Known forKilling of Aaron Danielson, and subsequent killing by law enforcement, during 2020 Portland George Floyd protests

On September 3, 2020, Danielson's suspected killer, Michael Reinoehl, an American far-left activist[5][6] and supporter of the left-wing movement Antifa,[3][7] was shot and killed by a federally led fugitive task force near Lacey, Washington.[8][9] Reinoehl had admitted to killing Danielson in an interview shortly before his death, claiming it was in self-defense,[10] although the police said that Reinoehl had followed and targeted Danielson.[11] Danielson's killing was the first time in over 26 years that a self-identified anti-fascist activist had been charged with homicide.[5][7][12][11] President Donald Trump commended the U.S. Marshals for shooting Reinoehl,[13] describing it as "retribution",[14][15][16] and claiming to have personally "sent in" the U.S. Marshals to "get" Reinoehl during the first presidential debate with Joe Biden.[17]

An investigation by the Thurston County Sheriff's Office concluded that Reinoehl had most likely initiated an exchange of gunfire with officers before he was killed.[18][19] However, some witnesses stated that officers opened fire without warning,[20] and a review by The New York Times also disputed this,[19] concluding that local investigators had discounted key pieces of evidence.[19][21]

Background edit

In the weeks and months prior to the two killings, Portland was the site of significant protests against police brutality and racism in the United States, as part of the American and international protests that followed the murder of George Floyd in May 2020.[3] These protests saw confrontations between protesters and right-wing counter-protesters.[3] Right-wing counter-protestors were reported to fire paintball guns and release bear spray at protestors, and protestors were reported as releasing fireworks and other objects.[22]

On August 29, 2020, 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 downtown Portland.[23] The rally was set up by Meridian-based real-estate developer Alex Kuzmenko, who used an assumed name to organize the activities on Facebook and other social media.[24][25] Caravan participants and counterprotesters got into heated and sometimes violent confrontations.[26]

Aaron J. Danielson edit

Aaron Joseph Danielson (born September 4, 1980) was a resident of Portland.[27][28] Danielson was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He attended local schools including Shadle Park High School, dropping out during his senior year and then briefly working as a mover in Spokane.[29] Danielson moved to Portland soon after and together with a friend established a moving company which transported heavy items such as safes, hot tubs, stoves and statues.[29] He never married and did not have children.[30]

According to Portland Tribune articles published after his death, Danielson spent much of his free time with a racially mixed group of people in his neighborhood, and black friends spoke up for him.[30][31] Danielson was characterized by those who knew him as neither a radical, nor a racist or fascist, although he could on occasion be politically provocative and was said to have had a long-standing penchant for conspiracy theories.[30][31] Like Reinoehl, Danielson was drawn to the protests, heading into downtown Portland on his mountain board and posting videos of them almost every night.[29][30][31] According to The Spokesman-Review, there were no reports or publicly released videos of Danielson having been involved in any physical conflicts during the protests, apart from his killing.[29]

Danielson's parents said he blamed antifa for destruction in Portland and was convinced that the group was funded by someone who wanted America destroyed by civil war.[29] Danielson's parents said he had always been a staunch Republican, but that more recently, especially since the start of the protests, they had noticed that his views had shifted, stating: "He started to get more and more concerned about government taking over, the U.N. coming in, China controlling everything. I mean, we started hearing about it. We hadn't heard about it before that."[29] Danielson frequently texted them and sent them videos to watch.[29]

Danielson was a supporter of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer, of which his parents said they were unaware.[29] According to Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson, Danielson had been attending the group's rallies for about three years.[29] Chandler Pappas, a fellow Patriot Prayer supporter who was with Danielson on the night he was killed, reportedly told Danielson's parents that their son's involvement had been limited and begun more recently, around nine months prior.[29] Danielson was known within the group by the alias "Jay" and took part in the Trump 2020 Cruise Rally wearing a Patriot Prayer hat.[32] He had volunteered to provide security for the rally.[30]

Shooting of Danielson edit

External media
Images
  Surveillance camera image showing a man identified by police as Reinoehl concealing himself to wait until Danielson (left) and Pappas, pointed out by red arrows, had passed[11][33]
  The man identified as Reinoehl emerging from his place of concealment, reaching toward a pocket or pouch on his waistband[11][33]
Video
  Video posted by YouTube account "Stumptown Matters"[34]
  Video by Justin Dunlap[34]

Danielson was shot and killed at about 8:45 p.m. on August 29, near the intersection of Southwest 3rd Avenue and Alder Street in Portland.[35] Reinoehl was identified as the shooter on social media within hours.[11] A police affidavit requesting a warrant for Reinoehl's arrest, released after his death, included surveillance camera evidence showing that Reinoehl had spotted Danielson and Pappas and had hidden in a parking garage to let them pass, "reaching toward the pocket or pouch on his waistband."[11][36] When Danielson and Pappas crossed the road, Reinoehl, joined by an associate, followed them, with the shooting occurring moments later.[11][36][37] Immediately prior to the shooting, someone was heard to shout "We've got a couple right here", followed first by a warning that Danielson was preparing to use a can of mace and then two gunshots.[8][38] The actual shooting was not recorded by the surveillance camera, but it was captured on videos recorded by bystanders that circulated online.[34][38]

According to the police affidavit, Danielson had a loaded Glock pistol in a holster and was holding a can of bear spray and an expandable metal baton.[39] Danielson's can of bear spray is believed to have been struck by the first bullet due to damage to the can and a gaseous cloud that erupted after the first shot was fired.[11] The second bullet hit Danielson's upper right chest, killing him.[11]

In an interview with a freelance journalist that was aired by Vice, Reinoehl said he acted in self-defense as Danielson was about to stab another protester with a knife.[10][40] However, no knife was found on Danielson.[35]

At a memorial held in a park in Vancouver, Washington, Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson urged mourners not to seek vengeance, saying: "I know that Jay would not want that. Jay wants us to stand up for what we believe in, and he does not want any more violence, guys."[41] Danielson's father, speaking to a reporter at home in Spokane County, expressed a wish for Democrats to "get together with the Republican side and put a stop to this violence. If I can lose the life of my son, they can sit down at a table and be civil to each other and start to work something out. I deserve that as a citizen."[29]

Michael F. Reinoehl edit

Michael Forest Reinoehl (May 17, 1972 – September 3, 2020)[33] lived in Clackamas, Oregon, a suburb of Portland, Oregon, and had two children.[3][9][42] Reinoehl had described himself as an anti-fascist activist and antifa supporter[34] as well as a professional snowboarder and an Army veteran,[43] although an Army spokesperson said there were no records indicating Reinoehl had served in the Army.[34] When his snowboarding career waned, Reinoehl had worked as a construction contractor.[13]

Reinoehl had been estranged from his family in recent years and was reported to have been supporting himself through odd jobs carried out for friends.[30][44] A snowboarding friend said that Reinoehl had been known for daredevil snowboard stunts in his youth, but that he had been struggling in recent years and had gone through a difficult divorce.[44] Reinoehl's sister described him as "not very stable" to The New York Times and said that his involvement in the Portland protests "made him feel like his existence meant something again."[30][13]

Reinoehl's social media accounts showed that he had been heavily involved in the protests for three months, helping to provide security.[9][42] A protest leader said Reinoehl had been trained in de-escalation and was "excellent at that".[8] Another local organizer described Reinoehl as a "guardian angel" for protesters.[13] A protester who had become friends with Reinoehl said: "Nightly, he would break up fights."[8] Reinoehl's social media posts, which had previously been about scenes of snowboarding, nature and his children, focused almost exclusively on the protests in Portland from May 30 onward.[45]

Reinoehl was wanted for failing to appear in court for a June 2020 speed racing case. According to state police, 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.[46] The car also contained marijuana, pills, and a loaded Glock pistol, for which Reinoehl did not have a license.[46][47] Reinoehl was arrested for driving under the influence, reckless endangerment of a person and unlawful possession of a firearm.[47] Reinoehl was arrested again in Portland on July 5 for having a loaded gun in public.[42][45] According to NPR, citing information given by the district attorney's office spokesman, that case was still an ongoing investigation at the time of his death.[48] According to The Oregonian "the allegations were dropped on July 30 with a 'no complaint,' according to court records. The documents don't indicate why prosecutors decided not to pursue the accusations. Reinoehl spent no time behind bars."[49] Reinoehl was shot and wounded in Portland in July after he intervened in an altercation where one of the participants was armed.[42][46] On August 7, according to police investigators, Reinoehl sent a text message to his teenage son saying, "Sell me the gun for a quarter pound of weed and $100 I'm getting tired of this shit I need a piece now."[11] Reinoehl was set to be evicted on August 29 after his landlord "apparently noticed six or seven high schoolers smoking marijuana in Reinoehl's apartment." Reinoehl later texted his landlord saying he didn't "have anywhere to go and that the Proud Boys were trying to shoot him." On August 29 "Reinoehl told Yoder that the potential of having the Sheriff's Office evict him was triggering his PTSD. The next night, Aug. 30, police again responded to the house after the other tenants reported it being shot at sometime before 1 p.m."[50]

In a June 2020 Instagram post that was characterized by The New York Times as "laced with violent messages", Reinoehl wrote that he was "100% ANTIFA all the way!"[34][8] In the same Instagram post, Reinoehl also wrote: "We truly have an opportunity right now to fix everything. But it will be a fight like no other! It will be a war and like all wars there will be casualties."[51] Reinoehl said he was prepared to fight "to change the course of humanity".[43] Reinoehl was not associated with Rose City Antifa or the Portland-based anti-fascist organization Popular Mobilization.[52] In an interview aired by Vice Media, Reinoehl stated: "I felt that my life and other people around me's lives were in danger, and I felt like I had no choice but to do what I did. [...] They want to paint a picture of antifa having major involvement. A lot of people don't understand what antifa represents. And if you just look at the basic definition of it, it's just anti-fascist. And I am 100% anti-fascist. I'm not a member of antifa. I'm not a member of anything. Honestly, I hate to say it, but I see a civil war right around the corner. That shot felt like the beginning of a war."[10][53][54] Reinoehl told Vice that he had not turned himself in after the shooting of Danielson because he feared that police were collaborating with right-wing protesters and that he might be killed in custody.[10][13] Reinoehl told Vice that his home had been shot at and that he was being hunted.[10]

Shooting of Reinoehl edit

Reinoehl was charged with second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon on September 3, 2020.[28][11] Agents from the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service located him in Lacey, Washington, a suburb of Olympia, Washington,[55] and he was shot and killed later that day, between 6:45 and 7:30 p.m., by members of a federal law enforcement task force.[8][9]

A seven-month inquiry into his death determined "Reinoehl fired first," "that he failed to comply with orders to surrender and was reaching for a gun in his possession when he was shot."[56] Despite this finding, officer reports released after the initial summary reveal that no officers described Reinoehl pointing or firing a weapon towards the officers. Several officers did report him reaching for his waist when the police opened fire.[21]

Members of the task force approached Reinoehl outside an apartment on a residential street as he attempted to enter his car.[8] Lieutenant Ray Brady of the Sheriff's Department in Thurston County stated that four officers fired at Reinoehl outside an apartment after he drew a gun.[3][9] Brady said he did not believe the involved officers used bodycams or vehicle dashboard cameras during the incident.[55] A statement by the U.S. Marshals Service said that Reinoehl had been armed and threatened the lives of officers.[13] No officers were hurt during the incident.[9]

Initial witness reports edit

There were conflicting witness reports immediately after the event:[57]

  • One witness was reported as saying she saw Reinoehl fire first.[55] However, according to another account, the same witness said she was not present when the shooting began.[20]
  • Another 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.[8] 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.[8]
  • Two witnesses working nearby were reported to have said that Reinoehl was in a car outside an apartment complex when two unmarked SUVs converged on Reinoehl's car. Reinoehl then got out of the car and fired 40 to 50 rounds from what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle at the SUVs before officers returned fire.[58] One of the witnesses later said he and his coworker were misquoted and he was unsure whether Reinoehl had a weapon.[59]
  • Another witness said he heard 30–40 gunshots and yet another witness said he heard 8–10.[58]
  • On September 9, a resident of the apartment complex where Reinoehl had been staying who witnessed the shooting issued a statement through his attorney, saying that Reinoehl was walking towards his car, holding only a cellphone and eating candy when officers arrived at the scene, and that officers opened fire without any verbal warning.[60][61][62] He said that after officers began firing, Reinoehl tried to duck for cover behind his car, which was blocked in by police vehicles.[62][63] The witness said Reinoehl never got into the car, nor did he ever see Reinoehl hold a weapon or reach for anything while he was being fired at.[60][62][63]

Statements by officials edit

Law enforcement officials did not state that Reinoehl fired at them before they opened fire but only that he drew a weapon.[8]

On September 17, authorities said that Reinoehl was found to have been armed with a .380-caliber handgun.[63] They further said that a spent shell casing of that caliber was found in Reinoehl's vehicle and that a .22-caliber AR-15-style rifle, with its serial number removed, was located in a bag on the vehicle's front seat.[63][64] According to the official investigators, Reinoehl was first fired on as he was leaving the apartment building.[63] Reinoehl then ran to his station wagon, but he was unable to drive off as the vehicle was boxed in.[63] Reinoehl then attempted to run off and was fired on by officers again.[63] A spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office investigating the shooting said that notwithstanding witness reports saying that Reinoehl had appeared to be holding a rifle, he did not believe Reinoehl had in fact brandished his rifle.[59][64] Ballistics reports on the handgun would become available in two or three months' time.[64]

Witness video shows officers attempting to perform CPR on Reinoehl.[58][65] The aftermath of the shooting was recorded on video and posted on the internet.[58]

New York Times witness interviews edit

External videos
  "Visual Investigations" video published by The New York Times on October 13, 2020, reconstructing Reinoehl's shooting[20]

According to a report in The New York Times published on October 13, 2020, of 22 people who were near Reinoehl when he was shot, 21 told the Times they did not hear officers issue any commands or identify themselves prior to shooting.[20] Five eyewitnesses said the officers began shooting immediately after arriving on the scene.[20] None of the eyewitnesses interviewed by the Times stated that Reinoehl was holding a weapon.[20] One eyewitness described protecting his eight-year-old child from the gunfire, which he assumed was the work of criminals until he saw the officers' clothing.[20] Overall, four officers fired 37 times on Reinoehl, from rifles and handguns.[20] One of the officers involved said he thought he saw Reinoehl raise a gun inside his vehicle before the first shots were fired, but two others stated they did not.[20] Officers also gave differing statements on whether Reinoehl had pointed a weapon at them later in the street, with one saying he did, and others saying he had only appeared to be trying to "retrieve" a gun from his trouser pocket.[20] An updated statement by the investigators said that officers found a gun in Reinoehl's pocket when they searched his body, and that his hand had been on it when he fell.[20]

As of October 2020, the Thurston County sheriff's department is conducting a criminal homicide investigation into Reinoehl's death.[20]

A review by The New York Times released on April 10, 2021, concluded that local investigators discounted key pieces of evidence that contradicted the notion that Reinoehl fired his weapon; for example, Reinoehl had a full magazine in the gun found on him.[19]

Vice report edit

In May 2022 Vice News reported on an extensive collection of documents it was able to review related to the shooting and subsequent investigation, some of which had been redacted, most of which came from the Thurston County sheriff's office. "[They] offer contradictory and troubling information", the site wrote.[66]

A key Marshals witness declined to speak to investigators. Mysterious evidence was sent anonymously to investigators months after the killing. The accounts of law enforcement personnel involved were baffling and at times inconsistent, not always squaring on questions as basic as whether Reinoehl was carrying a rifle or had shot at them. A former combat medic for the U.S. Army who witnessed the killing—and tried to keep children, including his own son, from being shot as police sprayed dozens of bullets—provided an account that countered official narratives, but the lead investigator in the case didn't speak to him for a month and a half after the shooting.

According to Vice, the information in the documents about the vehicle Reinoehl was in, what weapons he had, and who he was traveling with was detailed and accurate enough to support an inference that law enforcement had an informant close to Reinoehl.[66]

The task force that prepared to arrest Reinoehl was hampered in communicating since their radios were not working properly as they had taken them outside the jurisdiction of the local police department that usually used them. The decision to attempt the arrest seemed from the documents to have been taken by two officers who may have reacted to something they heard on the radio. An investigator found upon reviewing the contents of Reinoehl's car a week later that he had a disassembled assault rifle in a backpack in the car. An empty .223-caliber shell casing found in the car was linked to the handgun Reinoehl had on him when he died; this was cited in the documents to support the claim that he had fired at the police, although the report concedes that there was no way to confirm when it had been fired.[66]

The shell casing seemed from the documents to have been at the center of an evidence tampering investigation conducted by an unnamed outside agency due to conflict of interest issues. Documents related to this were more intensely redacted than the other ones in the file, and indicate that the shell casing's presence was first reported in February 2021, when someone informed the investigators they had it and mailed it somewhere for a detective to pick up. The person who had learned of the casing said they had urged the person they had learned of it from to turn it over to the sheriff's office in October; that person asked them instead to keep it themselves or turn it over to a private investigator. Ultimately the first person advised the second that if they did not turn it over to law enforcement by a certain date the first person would report them for not doing so, which triggered the casing being sent to law enforcement via FedEx with an apparent homemade chain of custody form. The outcome of the investigation was unknown; the documents report that two people never returned calls concerning it.[66]

Reactions edit

Danielson's killing edit

Joe Biden, the Democratic Party's 2020 presidential candidate, released a statement on August 30, the day after the shooting, saying: "The deadly violence we saw overnight in Portland is unacceptable. Shooting in the streets of a great American city is unacceptable. I condemn this violence unequivocally. I condemn violence of every kind by anyone, whether on the left or the right. And I challenge Donald Trump to do the same."[67]

Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at the California State University, San Bernardino, commented to Voice of America in an article published on September 1, when investigations were still ongoing, that if Reinoehl was implicated it would mark the first case in recent history of an antifa supporter being charged with homicide.[7] Commenting in the Orange County Register on September 7, Levin said the incident was the "first known killing by an antifa supporter", describing it as "an outlier but also a bellwether. [...] You have a perfect storm in this country with a polarized population, a presidential election, a global pandemic that is frustrating and devastating people, and disinformation and conspiracy theories spreading on social media. The biggest threat is still, far-right white supremacist groups. But you also see that Facebook has become fertile soil for the mushrooming of small groups and lone actors."[12]

In October 2020, Danielson's killing was added to the CSIS terrorism database as a deadly "far-left" attack, the first such incident in over two decades.[5] The killing is also referenced on the Anti-Defamation League's page on antifa, as the only "suspected antifa-related murder" to date;[68] and the New America Foundation's tally of killings during terrorist attacks in the U.S. since 9/11, as the first recorded fatality in a far-left attack, while far right attacks have been regularly recorded for the past 25 years.[69]

Shortly before Reinoehl's death was announced on September 3, President Donald Trump tweeted asking why Portland police had not arrested Danielson's "cold blooded killer", adding that "[e]verybody knows who this thug is. No wonder Portland is going to hell!"[70] In a Facebook Live video broadcast on September 13, Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Public Affairs Michael Caputo described the killing of Danielson as "a drill" for future political violence. In the same broadcast, Caputo espoused several other baseless conspiracy theories about the left's "armed revolt" and left-wing "hit squads."[71][72]

Reinoehl's killing edit

After Reinoehl's killing, hundreds of people protested outside a police station in Portland.[8] A protest organizer who knew Reinoehl said: "If the cops want this to stop, how is coming out here and killing us helping? That's literally why we are out here. They aren't giving us a day in court and are shooting us before asking questions."[38]

Attorney General William Barr described Reinoehl as a "violent agitator"[13] 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."[73][74] Trump commended Marshals for "strength" and "bravery".[13] On September 12, President Trump said that Reinoehl was "a violent criminal, and the U.S. Marshals killed him. And I will tell you something, that's the way it has to be. There has to be retribution when you have crime like this." Commentators described the statement as appearing to endorse extrajudicial killing.[14][15][16] Trump referred to the matter again at a rally on October 15. He criticized Portland Police for letting days pass by without arresting Reinoehl, even though he had been quickly identified on social media, and then stated: "We sent in the U.S. Marshals. It took 15 minutes it was over. Fifteen minutes, it was over. We got him. They knew who he was. They didn't want to arrest him. Fifteen minutes, that ended."[75][76]

Reinoehl's estranged sister told NPR she was both angry with her brother and sad at his death: "It's awful. This whole thing is awful. There's a lot of people out there who feel like violence is the only solution to fixing things now, people on both sides."[45]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ McLaughlin, Erin; Kroll, Susan; Li, David (August 31, 2020). "Far-right Patriot Prayer group says fatal shooting victim in Portland was a supporter". NBC News. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  2. ^ Craig, Tim; Mekhenet, Souad (September 1, 2020). "Portland killing renews focus on tactics of far-right group Patriot Prayer". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Portland suspect shot dead by police during arrest". BBC News. September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  4. ^ Marine, Drew (August 29, 2020). "Hundreds show up for Trump 2020 Cruise Rally in Clackamas County". KPTV. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Beckett, Lois (October 22, 2020). "White supremacists behind majority of US domestic terror attacks in 2020". The Guardian. from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  6. ^ Levinson, Jonathan (September 5, 2020). "Violence Escalates As Portland Nears 100 Consecutive Nights Of Protests". NPR. from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c Farivar, Masood (September 1, 2020). "Antifa Protester Implicated in Killing of Trump Supporter in Oregon". Voice of America. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Baker, Mike; Golden, Hallie; Goldman, Adam (September 3, 2020). "Suspect in Fatal Portland Shooting Is Killed by Officers During Arrest". The New York Times. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Gurman, Sadie; Carlton, Jim; Barrett, Joe (September 4, 2020). "Michael Reinoehl, Suspect in Portland Shooting, Is Killed by Law Enforcement". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Man Linked to Killing at a Portland Protest Says He Acted in Self-Defense". Vice. Vice News. September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Bernstein, Maxine (September 4, 2020). "Michael Reinoehl appeared to target right-wing demonstrator before fatal shooting in Portland, police say". The Oregonian. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  12. ^ a b Bharath, Deepa (September 7, 2020). "As Nov. 3 election draws near, fears mount of escalating street violence". Orange County Register. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h MacFarquhar, Neil; Baker, Mike; Goldman, Adam (September 4, 2020). "In His Last Hours, Portland Murder Suspect Said He Feared Arrest". The New York Times. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  14. ^ a b Wade, Peter (September 13, 2020). "Trump Calls for 'Retribution,' Not Justice, in Portland Shooting". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  15. ^ a b Concepcion, Summer (September 13, 2020). "Trump: Extrajudicial Killing Of Portland Shooting Suspect Is 'The Way It Has To Be'". Talking Points Memo. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  16. ^ a b Robinson, Nathan J. (October 1, 2020). "The Federal Killing of a Protester Should Alarm Us All". Current Affairs. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  17. ^ "Trump, Biden trade jabs about Portland, antifa, Proud Boys in first presidential debate". kgw.com. September 29, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  18. ^ Wilson, Conrad (March 1, 2021). "Investigators complete review of federal police shooting that killed wanted Portland activist". opb. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  19. ^ a b c d Baker, Mike; Hill, Evan (April 10, 2021). "Police Say an Antifa Activist Likely Shot at Officers. His Gun Suggests Otherwise". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hill, Evan; Baker, Mike; Knowles, Derek; Cooper, Stella (October 13, 2020). "'Straight to Gunshots': How a U.S. Task Force Killed an Antifa Activist". The New York Times. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  21. ^ a b Wilson, Haas, Brynelson. "Police radio problems led to chaotic scene when officers killed Portland activist". OPB. Retrieved April 8, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Bernton, Hal; Kamb, Lewis (September 3, 2020). "A brief encounter, then gunshots. Now narratives fly after fatal Portland shooting". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  23. ^ Marine, Drew (August 29, 2020). "Hundreds show up for Trump 2020 Cruise Rally in Clackamas County". KPTV. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  24. ^ Stanley-Becker, Issac; Partlow, Joshua; Wolf, Carissa (September 22, 2020). "Luxury cars, MAGA flags and Facebook invites: How an unknown Idaho family organized the Portland rally that turned deadly". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  25. ^ Wilson, Jason (September 3, 2020). "Breadth of rightwing Portland protest network reveals energized Trump base". The Guardian. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  26. ^ Dowling, Jennifer (September 29, 2020). "Deadly shooting near rally, counterprotest in downtown Portland". KOIN Channel 6. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  27. ^ "Man shot and killed Saturday in downtown Portland was a supporter of Patriot Prayer". Clark County Today. August 31, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  28. ^ a b Schmidt, Mike (September 3, 2020). "State of Oregon v. Michael Forest Reinoehl (document 1 in Multnomah County Court documents released on September 4, 2020)". p. 1. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k McDermott, Ted (September 6, 2020). "'It has to be meaningful': Parents recall a life that began in Spokane and ended in apparent political killing in Portland". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g Redden, Jim (September 16, 2020). "Lives collide, blood is spilled". Portland Tribune.
  31. ^ a b c Redden, Jim; Sparling, Zane (August 31, 2020). "Friends remember Aaron Danielson: 'He wasn't taking sides'". Portland Tribune.
  32. ^ Campuzano, Eder (August 30, 2020). "Man fatally shot after pro-Trump caravan was Patriot Prayer 'friend and supporter' Aaron Danielson". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  33. ^ a b c Beniga, Rico (September 3, 2020). "Affidavit for Arrest Warrant (document 2 in Multnomah County Court documents released on September 4, 2020)". p. 17. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
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External links edit

  • Portland police affidavit requesting regarding Reinoehl

killings, aaron, danielson, michael, reinoehl, august, 2020, aaron, danielson, american, supporter, right, group, patriot, prayer, shot, killed, after, participating, caravan, which, drove, through, portland, oregon, displaying, banners, signs, supporting, pre. On August 29 2020 Aaron Danielson an American supporter of the far right group Patriot Prayer 1 2 was shot and killed after participating in a caravan which drove through Portland Oregon displaying banners and signs supporting President Donald Trump 3 and clashing with participants in the local George Floyd protests 3 4 Aaron DanielsonBornAaron Joseph Danielson 1980 09 04 September 4 1980Spokane Washington U S DiedAugust 29 2020 2020 08 29 aged 39 Portland Oregon U S Cause of deathGunshot woundOccupationMoving company ownerKnown forKilled by Michael Reinoehl during 2020 Portland George Floyd protests Michael ReinoehlBornMichael Forest Reinoehl 1972 05 17 May 17 1972DiedSeptember 3 2020 2020 09 03 aged 48 Lacey Washington U S Cause of deathGunshot woundKnown forKilling of Aaron Danielson and subsequent killing by law enforcement during 2020 Portland George Floyd protests On September 3 2020 Danielson s suspected killer Michael Reinoehl an American far left activist 5 6 and supporter of the left wing movement Antifa 3 7 was shot and killed by a federally led fugitive task force near Lacey Washington 8 9 Reinoehl had admitted to killing Danielson in an interview shortly before his death claiming it was in self defense 10 although the police said that Reinoehl had followed and targeted Danielson 11 Danielson s killing was the first time in over 26 years that a self identified anti fascist activist had been charged with homicide 5 7 12 11 President Donald Trump commended the U S Marshals for shooting Reinoehl 13 describing it as retribution 14 15 16 and claiming to have personally sent in the U S Marshals to get Reinoehl during the first presidential debate with Joe Biden 17 An investigation by the Thurston County Sheriff s Office concluded that Reinoehl had most likely initiated an exchange of gunfire with officers before he was killed 18 19 However some witnesses stated that officers opened fire without warning 20 and a review by The New York Times also disputed this 19 concluding that local investigators had discounted key pieces of evidence 19 21 Contents 1 Background 2 Aaron J Danielson 2 1 Shooting of Danielson 3 Michael F Reinoehl 3 1 Shooting of Reinoehl 3 1 1 Initial witness reports 3 1 2 Statements by officials 3 1 3 New York Times witness interviews 3 1 4 Vice report 4 Reactions 4 1 Danielson s killing 4 2 Reinoehl s killing 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBackground editMain article George Floyd protests in Portland Oregon In the weeks and months prior to the two killings Portland was the site of significant protests against police brutality and racism in the United States as part of the American and international protests that followed the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 3 These protests saw confrontations between protesters and right wing counter protesters 3 Right wing counter protestors were reported to fire paintball guns and release bear spray at protestors and protestors were reported as releasing fireworks and other objects 22 On August 29 2020 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 downtown Portland 23 The rally was set up by Meridian based real estate developer Alex Kuzmenko who used an assumed name to organize the activities on Facebook and other social media 24 25 Caravan participants and counterprotesters got into heated and sometimes violent confrontations 26 Aaron J Danielson editAaron Joseph Danielson born September 4 1980 was a resident of Portland 27 28 Danielson was born and raised in Spokane Washington He attended local schools including Shadle Park High School dropping out during his senior year and then briefly working as a mover in Spokane 29 Danielson moved to Portland soon after and together with a friend established a moving company which transported heavy items such as safes hot tubs stoves and statues 29 He never married and did not have children 30 According to Portland Tribune articles published after his death Danielson spent much of his free time with a racially mixed group of people in his neighborhood and black friends spoke up for him 30 31 Danielson was characterized by those who knew him as neither a radical nor a racist or fascist although he could on occasion be politically provocative and was said to have had a long standing penchant for conspiracy theories 30 31 Like Reinoehl Danielson was drawn to the protests heading into downtown Portland on his mountain board and posting videos of them almost every night 29 30 31 According to The Spokesman Review there were no reports or publicly released videos of Danielson having been involved in any physical conflicts during the protests apart from his killing 29 Danielson s parents said he blamed antifa for destruction in Portland and was convinced that the group was funded by someone who wanted America destroyed by civil war 29 Danielson s parents said he had always been a staunch Republican but that more recently especially since the start of the protests they had noticed that his views had shifted stating He started to get more and more concerned about government taking over the U N coming in China controlling everything I mean we started hearing about it We hadn t heard about it before that 29 Danielson frequently texted them and sent them videos to watch 29 Danielson was a supporter of the right wing group Patriot Prayer of which his parents said they were unaware 29 According to Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson Danielson had been attending the group s rallies for about three years 29 Chandler Pappas a fellow Patriot Prayer supporter who was with Danielson on the night he was killed reportedly told Danielson s parents that their son s involvement had been limited and begun more recently around nine months prior 29 Danielson was known within the group by the alias Jay and took part in the Trump 2020 Cruise Rally wearing a Patriot Prayer hat 32 He had volunteered to provide security for the rally 30 Shooting of Danielson edit External mediaImages nbsp Surveillance camera image showing a man identified by police as Reinoehl concealing himself to wait until Danielson left and Pappas pointed out by red arrows had passed 11 33 nbsp The man identified as Reinoehl emerging from his place of concealment reaching toward a pocket or pouch on his waistband 11 33 Video nbsp Video posted by YouTube account Stumptown Matters 34 nbsp Video by Justin Dunlap 34 Danielson was shot and killed at about 8 45 p m on August 29 near the intersection of Southwest 3rd Avenue and Alder Street in Portland 35 Reinoehl was identified as the shooter on social media within hours 11 A police affidavit requesting a warrant for Reinoehl s arrest released after his death included surveillance camera evidence showing that Reinoehl had spotted Danielson and Pappas and had hidden in a parking garage to let them pass reaching toward the pocket or pouch on his waistband 11 36 When Danielson and Pappas crossed the road Reinoehl joined by an associate followed them with the shooting occurring moments later 11 36 37 Immediately prior to the shooting someone was heard to shout We ve got a couple right here followed first by a warning that Danielson was preparing to use a can of mace and then two gunshots 8 38 The actual shooting was not recorded by the surveillance camera but it was captured on videos recorded by bystanders that circulated online 34 38 According to the police affidavit Danielson had a loaded Glock pistol in a holster and was holding a can of bear spray and an expandable metal baton 39 Danielson s can of bear spray is believed to have been struck by the first bullet due to damage to the can and a gaseous cloud that erupted after the first shot was fired 11 The second bullet hit Danielson s upper right chest killing him 11 In an interview with a freelance journalist that was aired by Vice Reinoehl said he acted in self defense as Danielson was about to stab another protester with a knife 10 40 However no knife was found on Danielson 35 At a memorial held in a park in Vancouver Washington Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson urged mourners not to seek vengeance saying I know that Jay would not want that Jay wants us to stand up for what we believe in and he does not want any more violence guys 41 Danielson s father speaking to a reporter at home in Spokane County expressed a wish for Democrats to get together with the Republican side and put a stop to this violence If I can lose the life of my son they can sit down at a table and be civil to each other and start to work something out I deserve that as a citizen 29 Michael F Reinoehl editMichael Forest Reinoehl May 17 1972 September 3 2020 33 lived in Clackamas Oregon a suburb of Portland Oregon and had two children 3 9 42 Reinoehl had described himself as an anti fascist activist and antifa supporter 34 as well as a professional snowboarder and an Army veteran 43 although an Army spokesperson said there were no records indicating Reinoehl had served in the Army 34 When his snowboarding career waned Reinoehl had worked as a construction contractor 13 Reinoehl had been estranged from his family in recent years and was reported to have been supporting himself through odd jobs carried out for friends 30 44 A snowboarding friend said that Reinoehl had been known for daredevil snowboard stunts in his youth but that he had been struggling in recent years and had gone through a difficult divorce 44 Reinoehl s sister described him as not very stable to The New York Times and said that his involvement in the Portland protests made him feel like his existence meant something again 30 13 Reinoehl s social media accounts showed that he had been heavily involved in the protests for three months helping to provide security 9 42 A protest leader said Reinoehl had been trained in de escalation and was excellent at that 8 Another local organizer described Reinoehl as a guardian angel for protesters 13 A protester who had become friends with Reinoehl said Nightly he would break up fights 8 Reinoehl s social media posts which had previously been about scenes of snowboarding nature and his children focused almost exclusively on the protests in Portland from May 30 onward 45 Reinoehl was wanted for failing to appear in court for a June 2020 speed racing case According to state police 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 46 The car also contained marijuana pills and a loaded Glock pistol for which Reinoehl did not have a license 46 47 Reinoehl was arrested for driving under the influence reckless endangerment of a person and unlawful possession of a firearm 47 Reinoehl was arrested again in Portland on July 5 for having a loaded gun in public 42 45 According to NPR citing information given by the district attorney s office spokesman that case was still an ongoing investigation at the time of his death 48 According to The Oregonian the allegations were dropped on July 30 with a no complaint according to court records The documents don t indicate why prosecutors decided not to pursue the accusations Reinoehl spent no time behind bars 49 Reinoehl was shot and wounded in Portland in July after he intervened in an altercation where one of the participants was armed 42 46 On August 7 according to police investigators Reinoehl sent a text message to his teenage son saying Sell me the gun for a quarter pound of weed and 100 I m getting tired of this shit I need a piece now 11 Reinoehl was set to be evicted on August 29 after his landlord apparently noticed six or seven high schoolers smoking marijuana in Reinoehl s apartment Reinoehl later texted his landlord saying he didn t have anywhere to go and that the Proud Boys were trying to shoot him On August 29 Reinoehl told Yoder that the potential of having the Sheriff s Office evict him was triggering his PTSD The next night Aug 30 police again responded to the house after the other tenants reported it being shot at sometime before 1 p m 50 In a June 2020 Instagram post that was characterized by The New York Times as laced with violent messages Reinoehl wrote that he was 100 ANTIFA all the way 34 8 In the same Instagram post Reinoehl also wrote We truly have an opportunity right now to fix everything But it will be a fight like no other It will be a war and like all wars there will be casualties 51 Reinoehl said he was prepared to fight to change the course of humanity 43 Reinoehl was not associated with Rose City Antifa or the Portland based anti fascist organization Popular Mobilization 52 In an interview aired by Vice Media Reinoehl stated I felt that my life and other people around me s lives were in danger and I felt like I had no choice but to do what I did They want to paint a picture of antifa having major involvement A lot of people don t understand what antifa represents And if you just look at the basic definition of it it s just anti fascist And I am 100 anti fascist I m not a member of antifa I m not a member of anything Honestly I hate to say it but I see a civil war right around the corner That shot felt like the beginning of a war 10 53 54 Reinoehl told Vice that he had not turned himself in after the shooting of Danielson because he feared that police were collaborating with right wing protesters and that he might be killed in custody 10 13 Reinoehl told Vice that his home had been shot at and that he was being hunted 10 Shooting of Reinoehl edit Reinoehl was charged with second degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon on September 3 2020 28 11 Agents from the FBI and the U S Marshals Service located him in Lacey Washington a suburb of Olympia Washington 55 and he was shot and killed later that day between 6 45 and 7 30 p m by members of a federal law enforcement task force 8 9 A seven month inquiry into his death determined Reinoehl fired first that he failed to comply with orders to surrender and was reaching for a gun in his possession when he was shot 56 Despite this finding officer reports released after the initial summary reveal that no officers described Reinoehl pointing or firing a weapon towards the officers Several officers did report him reaching for his waist when the police opened fire 21 Members of the task force approached Reinoehl outside an apartment on a residential street as he attempted to enter his car 8 Lieutenant Ray Brady of the Sheriff s Department in Thurston County stated that four officers fired at Reinoehl outside an apartment after he drew a gun 3 9 Brady said he did not believe the involved officers used bodycams or vehicle dashboard cameras during the incident 55 A statement by the U S Marshals Service said that Reinoehl had been armed and threatened the lives of officers 13 No officers were hurt during the incident 9 Initial witness reports edit There were conflicting witness reports immediately after the event 57 One witness was reported as saying she saw Reinoehl fire first 55 However according to another account the same witness said she was not present when the shooting began 20 Another 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 8 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 8 Two witnesses working nearby were reported to have said that Reinoehl was in a car outside an apartment complex when two unmarked SUVs converged on Reinoehl s car Reinoehl then got out of the car and fired 40 to 50 rounds from what appeared to be a semi automatic rifle at the SUVs before officers returned fire 58 One of the witnesses later said he and his coworker were misquoted and he was unsure whether Reinoehl had a weapon 59 Another witness said he heard 30 40 gunshots and yet another witness said he heard 8 10 58 On September 9 a resident of the apartment complex where Reinoehl had been staying who witnessed the shooting issued a statement through his attorney saying that Reinoehl was walking towards his car holding only a cellphone and eating candy when officers arrived at the scene and that officers opened fire without any verbal warning 60 61 62 He said that after officers began firing Reinoehl tried to duck for cover behind his car which was blocked in by police vehicles 62 63 The witness said Reinoehl never got into the car nor did he ever see Reinoehl hold a weapon or reach for anything while he was being fired at 60 62 63 Statements by officials edit Law enforcement officials did not state that Reinoehl fired at them before they opened fire but only that he drew a weapon 8 On September 17 authorities said that Reinoehl was found to have been armed with a 380 caliber handgun 63 They further said that a spent shell casing of that caliber was found in Reinoehl s vehicle and that a 22 caliber AR 15 style rifle with its serial number removed was located in a bag on the vehicle s front seat 63 64 According to the official investigators Reinoehl was first fired on as he was leaving the apartment building 63 Reinoehl then ran to his station wagon but he was unable to drive off as the vehicle was boxed in 63 Reinoehl then attempted to run off and was fired on by officers again 63 A spokesperson for the Sheriff s Office investigating the shooting said that notwithstanding witness reports saying that Reinoehl had appeared to be holding a rifle he did not believe Reinoehl had in fact brandished his rifle 59 64 Ballistics reports on the handgun would become available in two or three months time 64 Witness video shows officers attempting to perform CPR on Reinoehl 58 65 The aftermath of the shooting was recorded on video and posted on the internet 58 New York Times witness interviews edit External videos nbsp Visual Investigations video published by The New York Times on October 13 2020 reconstructing Reinoehl s shooting 20 According to a report in The New York Times published on October 13 2020 of 22 people who were near Reinoehl when he was shot 21 told the Times they did not hear officers issue any commands or identify themselves prior to shooting 20 Five eyewitnesses said the officers began shooting immediately after arriving on the scene 20 None of the eyewitnesses interviewed by the Times stated that Reinoehl was holding a weapon 20 One eyewitness described protecting his eight year old child from the gunfire which he assumed was the work of criminals until he saw the officers clothing 20 Overall four officers fired 37 times on Reinoehl from rifles and handguns 20 One of the officers involved said he thought he saw Reinoehl raise a gun inside his vehicle before the first shots were fired but two others stated they did not 20 Officers also gave differing statements on whether Reinoehl had pointed a weapon at them later in the street with one saying he did and others saying he had only appeared to be trying to retrieve a gun from his trouser pocket 20 An updated statement by the investigators said that officers found a gun in Reinoehl s pocket when they searched his body and that his hand had been on it when he fell 20 As of October 2020 the Thurston County sheriff s department is conducting a criminal homicide investigation into Reinoehl s death 20 A review by The New York Times released on April 10 2021 concluded that local investigators discounted key pieces of evidence that contradicted the notion that Reinoehl fired his weapon for example Reinoehl had a full magazine in the gun found on him 19 Vice report edit In May 2022 Vice News reported on an extensive collection of documents it was able to review related to the shooting and subsequent investigation some of which had been redacted most of which came from the Thurston County sheriff s office They offer contradictory and troubling information the site wrote 66 A key Marshals witness declined to speak to investigators Mysterious evidence was sent anonymously to investigators months after the killing The accounts of law enforcement personnel involved were baffling and at times inconsistent not always squaring on questions as basic as whether Reinoehl was carrying a rifle or had shot at them A former combat medic for the U S Army who witnessed the killing and tried to keep children including his own son from being shot as police sprayed dozens of bullets provided an account that countered official narratives but the lead investigator in the case didn t speak to him for a month and a half after the shooting According to Vice the information in the documents about the vehicle Reinoehl was in what weapons he had and who he was traveling with was detailed and accurate enough to support an inference that law enforcement had an informant close to Reinoehl 66 The task force that prepared to arrest Reinoehl was hampered in communicating since their radios were not working properly as they had taken them outside the jurisdiction of the local police department that usually used them The decision to attempt the arrest seemed from the documents to have been taken by two officers who may have reacted to something they heard on the radio An investigator found upon reviewing the contents of Reinoehl s car a week later that he had a disassembled assault rifle in a backpack in the car An empty 223 caliber shell casing found in the car was linked to the handgun Reinoehl had on him when he died this was cited in the documents to support the claim that he had fired at the police although the report concedes that there was no way to confirm when it had been fired 66 The shell casing seemed from the documents to have been at the center of an evidence tampering investigation conducted by an unnamed outside agency due to conflict of interest issues Documents related to this were more intensely redacted than the other ones in the file and indicate that the shell casing s presence was first reported in February 2021 when someone informed the investigators they had it and mailed it somewhere for a detective to pick up The person who had learned of the casing said they had urged the person they had learned of it from to turn it over to the sheriff s office in October that person asked them instead to keep it themselves or turn it over to a private investigator Ultimately the first person advised the second that if they did not turn it over to law enforcement by a certain date the first person would report them for not doing so which triggered the casing being sent to law enforcement via FedEx with an apparent homemade chain of custody form The outcome of the investigation was unknown the documents report that two people never returned calls concerning it 66 Reactions editDanielson s killing edit Joe Biden the Democratic Party s 2020 presidential candidate released a statement on August 30 the day after the shooting saying The deadly violence we saw overnight in Portland is unacceptable Shooting in the streets of a great American city is unacceptable I condemn this violence unequivocally I condemn violence of every kind by anyone whether on the left or the right And I challenge Donald Trump to do the same 67 Brian Levin director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at the California State University San Bernardino commented to Voice of America in an article published on September 1 when investigations were still ongoing that if Reinoehl was implicated it would mark the first case in recent history of an antifa supporter being charged with homicide 7 Commenting in the Orange County Register on September 7 Levin said the incident was the first known killing by an antifa supporter describing it as an outlier but also a bellwether You have a perfect storm in this country with a polarized population a presidential election a global pandemic that is frustrating and devastating people and disinformation and conspiracy theories spreading on social media The biggest threat is still far right white supremacist groups But you also see that Facebook has become fertile soil for the mushrooming of small groups and lone actors 12 In October 2020 Danielson s killing was added to the CSIS terrorism database as a deadly far left attack the first such incident in over two decades 5 The killing is also referenced on the Anti Defamation League s page on antifa as the only suspected antifa related murder to date 68 and the New America Foundation s tally of killings during terrorist attacks in the U S since 9 11 as the first recorded fatality in a far left attack while far right attacks have been regularly recorded for the past 25 years 69 Shortly before Reinoehl s death was announced on September 3 President Donald Trump tweeted asking why Portland police had not arrested Danielson s cold blooded killer adding that e verybody knows who this thug is No wonder Portland is going to hell 70 In a Facebook Live video broadcast on September 13 Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Public Affairs Michael Caputo described the killing of Danielson as a drill for future political violence In the same broadcast Caputo espoused several other baseless conspiracy theories about the left s armed revolt and left wing hit squads 71 72 Reinoehl s killing edit After Reinoehl s killing hundreds of people protested outside a police station in Portland 8 A protest organizer who knew Reinoehl said If the cops want this to stop how is coming out here and killing us helping That s literally why we are out here They aren t giving us a day in court and are shooting us before asking questions 38 Attorney General William Barr described Reinoehl as a violent agitator 13 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 73 74 Trump commended Marshals for strength and bravery 13 On September 12 President Trump said that Reinoehl was a violent criminal and the U S Marshals killed him And I will tell you something that s the way it has to be There has to be retribution when you have crime like this Commentators described the statement as appearing to endorse extrajudicial killing 14 15 16 Trump referred to the matter again at a rally on October 15 He criticized Portland Police for letting days pass by without arresting Reinoehl even though he had been quickly identified on social media and then stated We sent in the U S Marshals It took 15 minutes it was over Fifteen minutes it was over We got him They knew who he was They didn t want to arrest him Fifteen minutes that ended 75 76 Reinoehl s estranged sister told NPR she was both angry with her brother and sad at his death It s awful This whole thing is awful There s a lot of people out there who feel like violence is the only solution to fixing things now people on both sides 45 See also editViolence and controversies during the George Floyd protests Terrorism in the United States 2019 Tacoma attackReferences edit McLaughlin Erin Kroll Susan Li David August 31 2020 Far right Patriot Prayer group says fatal shooting victim in Portland was a supporter NBC News Retrieved October 1 2020 Craig Tim Mekhenet Souad September 1 2020 Portland killing renews focus on tactics of far right group Patriot Prayer The Washington Post Retrieved October 1 2020 a b c d e f g Portland suspect shot dead by police during arrest BBC News September 4 2020 Retrieved September 6 2020 Marine Drew August 29 2020 Hundreds show up for Trump 2020 Cruise Rally in Clackamas County KPTV Retrieved September 4 2020 a b c Beckett Lois October 22 2020 White supremacists behind majority of US domestic terror attacks in 2020 The Guardian Archived from the original on November 24 2021 Retrieved October 23 2020 Levinson Jonathan September 5 2020 Violence Escalates As Portland Nears 100 Consecutive Nights Of Protests NPR Archived from the original on August 18 2021 Retrieved October 28 2020 a b c Farivar Masood September 1 2020 Antifa Protester Implicated in Killing of Trump Supporter in Oregon Voice of America Retrieved September 23 2020 a b c d e f g h i j k Baker Mike Golden Hallie Goldman Adam September 3 2020 Suspect in Fatal Portland Shooting Is Killed by Officers During Arrest The New York Times Retrieved September 23 2020 a b c d e f Gurman Sadie Carlton Jim Barrett Joe September 4 2020 Michael Reinoehl Suspect in Portland Shooting Is Killed by Law Enforcement The Wall Street Journal Retrieved September 4 2020 a b c d e Man Linked to Killing at a Portland Protest Says He Acted in Self Defense Vice Vice News September 3 2020 Retrieved September 4 2020 a b c d e f g h i j k Bernstein Maxine September 4 2020 Michael Reinoehl appeared to target right wing demonstrator before fatal shooting in Portland police say The Oregonian Retrieved September 23 2020 a b Bharath Deepa September 7 2020 As Nov 3 election draws near fears mount of escalating street violence Orange County Register Retrieved September 23 2020 a b c d e f g h MacFarquhar Neil Baker Mike Goldman Adam September 4 2020 In His Last Hours Portland Murder Suspect Said He Feared Arrest The New York Times Retrieved September 5 2020 a b Wade Peter September 13 2020 Trump Calls for Retribution Not Justice in Portland Shooting Rolling Stone Retrieved September 9 2020 a b Concepcion Summer September 13 2020 Trump Extrajudicial Killing Of Portland Shooting Suspect Is The Way It Has To Be Talking Points Memo Retrieved September 13 2020 a b Robinson Nathan J October 1 2020 The Federal Killing of a Protester Should Alarm Us All Current Affairs Retrieved October 4 2020 Trump Biden trade jabs about Portland antifa Proud Boys in first presidential debate kgw com September 29 2020 Retrieved June 10 2022 Wilson Conrad March 1 2021 Investigators complete review of federal police shooting that killed wanted Portland activist opb Retrieved April 2 2021 a b c d Baker Mike Hill Evan April 10 2021 Police Say an Antifa Activist Likely Shot at Officers His Gun Suggests Otherwise The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved April 10 2021 a b c d e f g h i j k l Hill Evan Baker Mike Knowles Derek Cooper Stella October 13 2020 Straight to Gunshots How a U S Task Force Killed an Antifa Activist The New York Times Retrieved October 14 2020 a b Wilson Haas Brynelson Police radio problems led to chaotic scene when officers killed Portland activist OPB Retrieved April 8 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Bernton Hal Kamb Lewis September 3 2020 A brief encounter then gunshots Now narratives fly after fatal Portland shooting The Seattle Times Retrieved September 6 2020 Marine Drew August 29 2020 Hundreds show up for Trump 2020 Cruise Rally in Clackamas County KPTV Retrieved September 4 2020 Stanley Becker Issac Partlow Joshua Wolf Carissa September 22 2020 Luxury cars MAGA flags and Facebook invites How an unknown Idaho family organized the Portland rally that turned deadly The Washington Post Retrieved September 22 2020 Wilson Jason September 3 2020 Breadth of rightwing Portland protest network reveals energized Trump base The Guardian Retrieved September 22 2020 Dowling Jennifer September 29 2020 Deadly shooting near rally counterprotest in downtown Portland KOIN Channel 6 Retrieved January 26 2021 Man shot and killed Saturday in downtown Portland was a supporter of Patriot Prayer Clark County Today August 31 2020 Retrieved September 9 2020 a b Schmidt Mike September 3 2020 State of Oregon v Michael Forest Reinoehl document 1 in Multnomah County Court documents released on September 4 2020 p 1 Retrieved September 28 2020 a b c d e f g h i j k McDermott Ted September 6 2020 It has to be meaningful Parents recall a life that began in Spokane and ended in apparent political killing in Portland The Spokesman Review Retrieved September 9 2020 a b c d e f g Redden Jim September 16 2020 Lives collide blood is spilled Portland Tribune a b c Redden Jim Sparling Zane August 31 2020 Friends remember Aaron Danielson He wasn t taking sides Portland Tribune Campuzano Eder August 30 2020 Man fatally shot after pro Trump caravan was Patriot Prayer friend and supporter Aaron Danielson The Oregonian Retrieved August 30 2020 a b c Beniga Rico September 3 2020 Affidavit for Arrest Warrant document 2 in Multnomah County Court documents released on September 4 2020 p 17 Retrieved September 26 2020 a b c d e f Bennett Dalton Cahlan Sarah Lee Joyce September 4 2020 What video analysis of the Aug 29 Portland shooting tells us The Washington Post Retrieved September 5 2020 a b Jaquiss Nigel September 4 2020 Portland Police Arrest Warrant Includes New Details About Fatal Shooting of Aaron Danielson Willamette Week Retrieved September 8 2020 a b Berton Hal Kamb Lewis September 4 2020 Portland shooting suspect followed right wing activists after spotting them downtown unsealed arrest warrant says The Seattle Times Retrieved September 23 2020 Deliso Meredith September 5 2020 Portland suspect waited in garage before shooting pro Trump protester Court documents ABC News Retrieved September 23 2020 a b c Nirappil Fenit Zapotosky Matt Berman Mark September 4 2020 Portland on edge after suspect in weekend killing is fatally shot by police The Washington Post Retrieved September 23 2020 Selsky Andrew September 4 2020 Portland shooting suspect and victim both had guns documents show Chicago Tribune Associated Press Retrieved September 6 2020 Hay Andrew September 3 2020 Oregon Man says Portland Shooting was Self Defense Reuters Retrieved September 4 2020 Calicchio Dom September 6 2020 Portland shooting victim Aaron Danielson remembered at memorial week after his death Fox News Retrieved September 9 2020 a b c d Balsamo Michael Warren Ted September 4 2020 Suspect in Portland death killed by investigators official says Salt Lake Tribune Associated Press Retrieved September 4 2020 a b Hay Andrew September 3 2020 Oregon man says Portland shooting was self defense Reuters Retrieved September 4 2020 a b Carlton Jim Barrett Joe Levy Rachael September 4 2020 What Is Known About Michael Reinoehl Suspect in Portland Shooting Killed by Law Enforcement The Wall Street Journal Retrieved September 25 2020 a b c Wilson Conrad Freda Kimberley Neuman Scott September 4 2020 Suspect In Fatal Shooting Of Portland Right Wing Protester Killed By Law Enforcement NPR Retrieved September 29 2020 a b c Bernstein Maxine September 1 2020 Man under investigation in fatal shooting of Patriot Prayer supporter wounded in July after trying to grab gun from stranger Oregonian OregonLive a b Zapotosky Matt September 4 2020 Suspect in Portland slaying killed when authorities moved to arrest him The Washington Post Retrieved September 25 2020 Freda Kimnerley Neuman Scott Wilson Conrad September 4 2020 Suspect In Fatal Shooting Of Portland Right Wing Protester Killed By Law Enforcement NPR Retrieved October 2 2020 Bernstein Maxine August 31 2020 Man under investigation in fatal shooting after pro Trump rally allegedly took loaded gun to earlier Portland protest The Oregonian Retrieved March 23 2021 Sparling Zane January 6 2021 Reinoehl faced eviction on day of fatal Portland protest shooting Portlandtribune com Retrieved March 23 2021 Specia Megan September 4 2020 What We Know About the Death of the Suspect in the Portland Shooting The New York Times Retrieved September 23 2020 Mogelson Luke October 25 2020 In the Streets with Antifa The New Yorker Retrieved October 31 2020 U S Marshals Kill Anti Fascist Activist Suspected in Fatal Portland Shooting Democracy Now September 4 2020 Retrieved September 23 2020 Sailor Craig Who was Michael Forest Reinoehl Portland shooting suspect The News Tribune Retrieved September 23 2020 a b c Selsky Andrew September 5 2020 Portland killing suspect and victim had guns documents say Associated Press Retrieved September 23 2020 Lewis Kamb and Hal Bernton March 31 2021 Portland murder suspect likely fired first at U S Marshal led task force investigation summary says The Seattle Times Retrieved April 3 2021 Aside from the finding that Reinoehl fired first the summary noted based on officer statements that he failed to comply with orders to surrender and was reaching for a gun in his possession when he was shot Owen Tess September 4 2020 Police Don t Have Their Story Straight About the Killing of Michael Reinoehl Vice News Vice Retrieved September 23 2020 a b c d Block Brandon Rolf Boone Gentzler Sara September 3 2020 See all of those yellow markings They re bullets Witnesses describe Reinoehl shooting The News Tribune Retrieved September 4 2020 a b Makuch Ben Makuch September 11 2020 A Key Eyewitness in the Portland Shooter s Killing Says His Account Was Misconstrued Vice Vice News Retrieved September 23 2020 a b Bernstein Maxine September 9 2020 Witness says officers never gave commands before firing at Michael Reinoehl outside WA apartment The Oregonian Retrieved September 11 2020 Davis Charles September 10 2020 Eyewitness claims police killed antifa Portland murder suspect before giving any commands Business Insider Retrieved September 11 2020 a b c Elfrink Tim September 10 2020 Police shot Portland slaying suspect without warning or trying to arrest him first witness says The Washington Post Retrieved October 4 2020 a b c d e f g Bernstein Maxine September 18 2020 Detectives say Michael Reinoehl pointed a handgun at officers at the time he was shot and killed in WA state The Oregonian Retrieved September 23 2020 a b c Boone Rolf September 17 2020 Portland shooting suspect Michael Reinoehl pointed gun at officers investigators say The Olympian Retrieved September 23 2020 Baker Mike Golden Hallie Goldman Adam September 3 2020 Suspect in Fatal Portland Shooting Is Killed by Officers During Arrest The New York Times Retrieved September 23 2020 a b c d Marchman Tim May 27 2022 Docs Reveal Chaotic Planning Execution of Raid That Killed Portland Antifa Shooter Vice News Retrieved June 1 2022 Mucha Sarah August 30 2020 Biden condemns violence in Portland and calls on Trump to do the same CNN Retrieved October 4 2020 Who are Antifa Anti Defamation League Retrieved October 20 2020 In Depth Terrorism in America After 9 11 Part IV What is the Threat to the United States Today main text and details after clicking Dataset then Download as CSV New America Foundation Retrieved December 4 2020 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 September 6 2020 LaFraniere Sharon September 14 2020 Trump Health Aide Pushes Bizarre Conspiracies and Warns of Armed Revolt The New York Times Retrieved September 18 2020 McCarthy Bill September 17 2020 Fact checking Trump health aide s unproven hit squads claim from controversial Facebook video PolitiFact Retrieved September 18 2020 Carrega Christina September 4 2020 Barr says streets are safer after killing of an alleged Antifa member CNN CNN Retrieved September 23 2020 Tracking down Portland shooting suspect Michael Reinoehl was significant accomplishment says U S attorney general William Barr The Oregonian September 5 2020 Retrieved September 5 2020 Bernstein Maxine October 15 2020 President Trump again keys in on death of Portland fugitive Michael Reinoehl They knew who he was They didn t want to arrest him The Oregonian Retrieved October 17 2020 Baker Mike Hill Evan October 15 2020 We got him Trump cheers the killing of an antifa activist The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved October 17 2020 External links editPortland police affidavit requesting regarding Reinoehl Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Killings of Aaron Danielson and Michael Reinoehl amp 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