On Thursday afternoon, a shocking incident unfolded at a medical clinic parking lot near Adventist Health hospital in Southeast Portland, where agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection confronted a man and a woman, resulting in a shooting. Witnesses and authorities reported that the confrontation occurred around 2:15 p.m. at the Adventist Health’s Medical Office 3, located at 10201 S.E. Main St.. The couple, believed to be married, sustained serious injuries during the encounter, with the man reportedly wounded in the arm or leg and the woman shot in the chest.
According to initial reports and dispatch audio, the shooting took place as federal officers attempted to box in a truck that had driven into the clinic's parking lot. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security indicated that the agents were attempting to make a traffic stop when the situation escalated. She described the incident as one of self-defense, stating that the agents had identified one of the truck's occupants as a Venezuelan illegal alien linked to the notorious Tren de Aragua prostitution ring and previously involved in a shooting in Portland.
McLaughlin further elaborated that when the agents identified themselves, the driver of the truck attempted to flee by weaponizing his vehicle, which led an agent to fire a defensive shot in fear for his life. Following the shooting, the driver managed to escape with the passenger, prompting an investigation by the FBI into the assault on federal officers.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced a formal investigation into the shooting, emphasizing the state's concerns regarding the excessive use of force by federal agents both locally and nationally. He reiterated the importance of ensuring accountability for federal agents acting within their official duties.
As news of the shooting spread, community members gathered for a candlelight vigil outside Portland City Hall, expressing their outrage and sorrow over the violence. Local leaders held a news conference to address the incident, demanding accountability and transparency from federal authorities.
Eyewitnesses recounted the chaotic scene at the medical office, where employees were alerted to the shooting. One witness described how federal officers followed a Toyota truck into the parking lot, attempting to corner it, while another reported seeing the driver reverse and accelerate multiple times, striking a nearby vehicle. Officers reportedly fired about five shots at the fleeing truck.
Following the incident, Portland police received emergency calls, leading them to find the wounded couple approximately 40 blocks away at Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside. Officers applied a tourniquet to the victims before summoning emergency medical personnel for transport to a local hospital.
Portland Police Chief Bob Day urged residents to remain calm during this tense time, highlighting that the investigation was still in its early stages. His comments followed a day of heightened emotions in the wake of a separate incident in Minneapolis, where a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed a woman observing immigration operations.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson condemned the shooting and called for the cessation of all federal operations in the city until a thorough investigation could be conducted. He expressed concern over the erosion of constitutional protections and the rising violence associated with federal enforcement actions.
Governor Tina Kotek joined Mayor Wilson and other community leaders at a press conference, demanding a comprehensive investigation and urging federal authorities against further detentions. "Oregonians deserve clear answers," she stated, echoing the community's calls for accountability and justice.