Portland, OR — Police in Portland responded to reports of gunfire near the protest site and took two individuals into custody, according to a report.
The Oregonian reported that authorities responded to reports of gunfire in downtown Portland and a victim was treated at a local hospital after being taken there in a private vehicle. Last night marked the 60th consecutive night in the city.
“As police were securing the scene a person arrived at a hospital by private vehicle with an apparent gunshot wound, non-life-threatening,” police said in a statement. “That person seems to have been associated with the incident near SW 4th Avenue and SW Salmon Street. Portland Police are still investigating.”
The shooting occurred about a block from where protesters have been clashing with police and US agents according to KATU reports.
Local police say they found a bag containing loaded rifle magazines and Molotov cocktails at a nearby park. A photo of the items was shared in a tweet from police late Sunday saying someone pointed out the bag to officers at Lownsdale Square Park late Sunday.
The protest late Sunday started peacefully, but intensified early Monday. Some demonstrators crowded around the fence surrounding the federal courthouse in downtown Portland. Federal agents deployed gas and flash bangs, and warned protesters to stay off federal property.
Chad Wolf, the Department of Homeland Security secretary, painted a disturbing picture in the city on Fox News‘ “Sunday Morning Futures” and said protesters have been armed with bats, power tools and have targeted “their violence on federal courthouses and federal law enforcement officers.”
Portland Police are taking a person in to custody in Lownsdale Square Park. Anyone who interferes with police performing their duty is subject to arrest.
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) July 27, 2020
The shooting on Sunday night would mark the second reported shooting near the protest. Authorities said one person suffered “numerous gunshot wounds” early Sunday, which occurred at the same time that police were forced to respond to another riot at the location. That victim had non-life-threatening injuries.
There has been growing criticism in the city directed toward Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Democrat, who has clashed with President Trump over the deployment of federal troops in the city.
Last week, he addressed a crowd of protesters and was booed and heckled. While he spoke, protesters displayed a list of demands on the justice center that included defunding the police by at least 50 percent and free all protesters from jail.
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