In a troubling incident on Thursday afternoon, US federal agents shot two individuals in Portland, Oregon, according to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). The PPB confirmed that the two victims are currently hospitalized, although their conditions remain unknown at this time.
The shooting occurred around 2:24 PM when officers received reports of a man who had been shot, seeking help near Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside. Upon arrival, the officers discovered both a male and female suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. They promptly administered first aid by applying a tourniquet and called for emergency medical personnel to transport the victims to the hospital.
According to the PPB, their officers were not involved in the shooting. Investigators have confirmed that the injuries sustained by the two individuals were a result of the incident involving federal agents.
Reacting to the incident, Maxine Dexter, a Democratic congresswoman representing East Portland, expressed deep concern. In her statement, she noted, “Just one day after the horrific murder in Minneapolis, I received reports that two people in my district were shot by federal immigration officials this afternoon in East Portland. Both individuals are alive, but we do not know the extent of their injuries.”
Dexter condemned the actions of ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), stating, “ICE has done nothing but inject terror, chaos, and cruelty into our communities. Trump’s immigration machine is using violence to control our communities – straight out of the authoritarian playbook. ICE must immediately end all active operations in Portland.”
Portland’s Mayor, Keith Wilson, also confirmed the shooting and supported Dexter’s call for a halt to immigration enforcement in the city. He stated, “We cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts. Portland is not a ‘training ground’ for militarized agents, and the ‘full force’ threatened by the administration has deadly consequences. As Mayor, I call on ICE to end all operations in Portland until a full investigation can be completed.”
Congresswoman Dexter further emphasized the need for a thorough local police investigation, stating, “We must allow our local law enforcement to do its work. There must be a comprehensive investigation without Trump’s interference.”
This incident follows another tragic event in Minneapolis, where an ICE agent fatally shot a woman just a day prior. In that case, federal officials took control of the investigation, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in such serious matters.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced that it is leading the ongoing investigation into the shooting involving Customs and Border Protection agents. Their Portland office reported that the shooting took place around 2:15 PM near the 10,000 block of Main St. in Portland, resulting in two individuals being wounded. However, a subsequent post by the FBI appeared to have been deleted shortly after its publication.
In light of the heightened emotions surrounding this incident, Police Chief Bob Day urged the community to remain calm as the investigation unfolds. He reiterated that the PPB does not engage in immigration enforcement, aiming to reassure the public amid rising tensions.
As the situation develops, more details will be made available regarding this serious shooting incident involving federal agents in Portland.