A man was shot and killed while two groups collided on the streets of Portland, Oregon, on Saturday.
As a pro-Trump car caravan was met by anti-Trump demonstrators, gunshots were fired around 8:45 p.m. local time, and one man was struck and killed, according to Portland police.
The man who was killed was wearing a thin blue line patch on his shorts, signaling his support for law enforcement. He also had a hat with a logo for Patriot Prayer, a far-right group that has been leading counterprotests in Portland.
Police did not release any information on a possible gunman or whether the incident was related to the protests as of early Sunday morning.
Earlier in the day on Saturday, videos posted to social media showed pro-Trump demonstrators had been throwing stuff out of their cars at the anti-Trump demonstrators and shooting them with paintball guns.
More conflict pic.twitter.com/0UTkWRvmiW
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) August 30, 2020
On 3rd Ave, police say there was live gunfire and there is a victim. Unsure what transpired. pic.twitter.com/jLr6LjQagA
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) August 30, 2020
“This violence is completely unacceptable, and we are working diligently to find and apprehend the individual or individuals responsible,” said Police Chief Chuck Lovell.
The protests in Portland have been taking place for months. President Trump urged Mayor Ted Wheeler to accept his offer for additional National Guard troops, but he declined Trump’s request publicly on Friday, one day before the shooting took place.
Today, I sent this letter via email to @realDonaldTrump declining his recurring offer to aid Portland by sending federal enforcement to the city. https://t.co/W85EDfriyk pic.twitter.com/CC1IWTp5k8
— Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) August 28, 2020
Trump condemned Wheeler’s leadership on Sunday morning in a flurry of tweets and retweets. The president called Wheeler “incompetent” for refusing to accept more troops before the protests turned violent.
“Wheeler is incompetent, much like Sleepy Joe Biden. This is not what our great Country wants. They want Safety & Security, and do NOT want to Defund our Police!” Trump tweeted.
“Our great National Guard could solve these problems in less than 1 hour. Local authorities must ask before it is too late. People of Portland, and other Democrat run cities, are disgusted with Schumer, Pelosi, and their local ‘leaders’. They want Law & Order!” he added.
Wheeler is incompetent, much like Sleepy Joe Biden. This is not what our great Country wants. They want Safety & Security, and do NOT want to Defund our Police! https://t.co/lZigDBjvKJ
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2020
Our great National Guard could solve these problems in less than 1 hour. Local authorities must ask before it is too late. People of Portland, and other Democrat run cities, are disgusted with Schumer, Pelosi, and thier local “leaders”. They want Law & Order! https://t.co/f6LOKcf7BU
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2020
The shooting in Portland occurred less than one week after a shooting took place during the riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin. A 17-year-old is accused of fatally shooting two protesters and wounded one other. He is charged with reckless homicide and several other charges.
