OLYMPIA, Wash. — Authorities on Thursday killed a suspect wanted in the Saturday shooting death of a right-wing counterprotester in Portland, Oregon, authorities confirmed overnight.
Here are the latest updates:
Update 2:44 a.m. EDT Sept. 4: U.S. Marshals have confirmed that members of a federal task force shot and killed Michael Reinoehl, 48, about 7:30 p.m. Thursday as agents attempted to arrest him in Washington state.
“The fugitive task force located Reinoehl in Olympia and attempted to peacefully arrest him,” U.S. Marshals said in a statement obtained by KATU. “Initial reports indicate the suspect produced a firearm, threatening the lives of law enforcement officers. Task force members responded to the threat and struck the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Reinoehl, who participated regularly in Portland, Oregon, anti-racism protests and described himself online as “100% ANTIFA,” was suspected of shooting and killing counterprotester Aaron “Jay” Danielson, who had been demonstrating with a group of President Donald Trump supporters on Saturday, according to The Associated Press and The New York Times.
A statement from the @USMarshalsHQ on the shooting death of Michael Reinoehl in Washington tonight. pic.twitter.com/2aTfvwiES8
— Lincoln Graves (@LincolnGraves) September 4, 2020
Original report: According to The Associated Press and The New York Times, a member of a federal task force fatally shot Michael Forest Reinoehl, 48, on Thursday night as agents attempted to arrest him in Lacey, Washington. The AP cited an unidentified senior Justice Department official in its report, while the Times cited four officials with knowledge of the probe.
The AP source added that Reinoehl had pulled a firearm as law enforcement tried to apprehend him, the news agency reported.
Lt. Ray Brady, of the Thurston County, Washington, Sheriff’s Office, confirmed that a U.S. Marshals task force had shot and killed a man Thursday night, but did not identify him, according to Seattle’s KIRO-TV.
Reinoehl, who participated regularly in Portland anti-racism protests and described himself online as “100% ANTIFA,” was suspected of shooting and killing counterprotester Aaron “Jay” Danielson, who had been demonstrating with a group of President Donald Trump supporters on Saturday, according to the news outlets.
In a Vice article published earlier Thursday, Reinoehl said he fired shots in self-defense after Danielson threatened to stab Reinoehl and a friend.
“I had no choice,” Reinoehl told Vice. “I mean, I, I had a choice. I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color. But I wasn’t going to do that.”
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cox Media Group
