THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — A U.S. Marshals task force on Thursday night shot and killed a man near Lacey thought to be connected with a fatal shooting last weekend in downtown Portland.
>>State police returning to Portland following deadly shooting
Video from August 29 allegedly shows the suspect, identified as Michael Reinoehl, shooting a far-right protester before running away.
Lt. Ray Brady of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said surveillance was happening at the Tanglewilde Terrace Townhomes, located in the 7600 block of Third Way Southeast in Lacey, where law enforcement was searching for a wanted homicide suspect.
According to The New York Times, that suspect was believed to be an Antifa supporter who was being investigated for the shooting and killing of Aaron Danielson, a supporter of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer.
According to Brady, the suspect walked outside an apartment and got into a car. As authorities tried to take him into custody, shots were fired at the man. He then got out of the car and fled. More shots were fired at the suspect, who was armed with a handgun, and he was later pronounced dead at the scene.
During that time, the suspect reportedly pulled a gun, according to The Associated Press.
Witnesses told KIRO 7 that they heard at least 10 gunshots.
U.S. Marshals later confirmed that the man members of the task force shot and killed about 7 p.m. was Reinoehl, 48.
Reportedly, Reinoehl regularly participated in Portland protests and described himself online as “100% ANTIFA.”
According to the AP, police on July 5 cited Reinoehl on allegations of possessing a loaded gun in a public place, resisting arrest and interfering with police.
A little more than an hour before Reinoehl’s death, VICE News released a new interview with him.
The 48-year-old claims that on the night he shot Danielson, his life was being threatened by counter-protesters who were driving through Portland.
“I had no choice, well I did have a choice, I could’ve sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color. But I wasn’t going to do that. Had I not acted I am confident that my friend, and I am sure I, would have been killed,” Reinoehl told VICE.
Reinoehl says he was with his son and others that day. He told VICE he felt like what he did was totally justified and that it was 100-percent directly related to the anti and pro-Trump rallies that day.
You can watch his full, 10-minute interview on VICE’s YouTube page.
Cox Media Group
