Police: Portland killing suspect pointed gun at officers
Authorities say a man suspected of killing a right-wing protester in Portland, Oregon, pointed a handgun at officers before he was shot to death by members of a federal task force
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man suspected of killing a right-wing protester in Portland, Oregon, pointed a handgun at officers before he was shot to death by members of a federal task force trying to arrest him, authorities said Thursday.
Michael Forest Reinoehl had a .380-caliber handgun when he was killed on Sept. 3 near Lacey, Washington, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, the lead agency investigating the shooting.
A spent shell casing was found in his vehicle, and an AR-15 style .22-caliber rifle was on the front seat, the sheriff's office said. The serial number on the rifle had been removed.
Ballistics tests were being done to determine if the handgun he was carrying was the same weapon used in the Aug. 29 fatal shooting of Aaron “Jay” Danielson in Portland.
Members of the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, headed by the U.S. Marshals Service, were executing a warrant for Reinoehl's arrest on second-degree murder and illegal gun charges in connection with the killing of Danielson. Four of those officers shot and killed Reinoehl, authorities have said.
Reinhoehl, 48, was a self-described anti-fascist and Black Lives Matter supporter.
Danielson, 39, a supporter of President Donald Trump and the far-right Patriot Prayer group, was shot and killed Aug. 29 after dueling protests in Portland.
Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock ruled out the possibility that Reinoehl had shot himself.