[ad_1]
The suspect in the death of a far-right protester in Portland was shot to death by US marshals in Washington state, according to local law enforcement officials.
Michael Forest Reinoehl, 48, a regular attendee during weeks of protests, was killed during an encounter in Lacey, Washington, southwest of Seattle on Thursday night, Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said, according to the Olympian news site.
Reinoehl was suspected of being involved in the death of Aaron Danielson in downtown Portland during a clash between Black Lives Matters protesters and Donald Trump supporters over the weekend.
Federal agents with the FBI and the US Marshals Service had located Reinoehl on Thursday after an arrest warrant was issued for him, Troyer said. During the encounter, Reinoehl was shot by a law enforcement officer working in the federal task force.
Thurston County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Ray Brady said the Pierce County Fugitive Detention Team, which works with U.S. Marshals, was in the area looking for a wanted homicide suspect when they saw him leave. one apartment. They said he appeared to be armed.
“The suspect got out of the car,” Troyer said. “They tried to take him into custody and shots were fired.”
The New York Times, the Washington Post and the Associated Press also reported his death, citing unidentified officials.
A witness walking his dog in the area was cited by the Olympian upon hearing 30-40 gunshots after two SUVs stopped outside a block.
On Monday it emerged that Portland police were reported to have launched a homicide investigation targeting a BLM supporter.
Trump, who highlighted Danielson’s death in tweets earlier in the week and defended the use of paintballs by his supporters against BLM protesters, posted on Twitter moments before the story broke: “Why did the police Portland DON’T ARREST Aaron ‘Jay’s Cold Blooded Killer? ‘Danielson “.
In an interview on Vice published Thursday morning, Reinoehl said he acted in self-defense when far-right protesters deviated from their agreed route and descended into the city center where BLM supporters gathered on Saturday.
“I didn’t have a choice. I mean, I, I had a choice. I could have sat there and watched them kill a colored friend of mine. But I wasn’t going to do that.”
