The estate of the suspect in a 2020 Portland shooting who was fatally shot by law enforcement has filed a wrongful death lawsuit with the U.S. District Court in Tacoma.
According to a report by The Associated Press, the estate of Michael Forest Reinoehl alleged in the lawsuit that police intended to use deadly force against the suspect in the shooting of Aaron Danielson during a clash between pro-Trump supporters and left-wing demonstrators in Portland in 2020.
“The actions of the officers, before, during, and after the shooting, show that they either had no plan to arrest the man without injury, made no effort to follow such a plan, or planned to use deadly force from the start,” the lawsuit said, according to AP.
AP also reported that the lawsuit stated officers in “militia-style fatigues” were in unmarked vehicles and “sprayed more than 40 bullets through the neighborhood, killing (Reinoehl), grazing a child playing nearby, and striking cars, fences, backyard playground equipment, buildings, and residences. At least five bullets struck him,” according to AP when reporting on what the lawsuit stated.
Spokespersons for the Washington State Patrol and Pierce County told AP that they do not comment on pending litigation.
Reinoehl, 48, was shot dead by a U.S. Marshal-led task force near Lacey on the night of Sept. 3, 2020. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, which investigated the incident, said the task force was surveilling Reinoehl’s apartment when the suspect came out and got into a vehicle to leave.
Law enforcement fired shots while attempting to apprehend Reinoehl, who then fled from the vehicle on foot. The task force opened fire on the suspect again, and he was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers said Reinoehl pointed a handgun at them, but a New York Times investigation found varying witness accounts of the incident.
The suspect, who identified as anti-fascist, told Vice News in an earlier 2020 interview that he acted in self-defense when he shot Danielson.
“I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color.” Reinoehl said. “But I wasn't going to do that.”
Danielson was killed in Portland on August 29, 2020. He belonged to a group of self-identified supporters of then-President Donald Trump, according to ABC News.
Court documents indicated that surveillance footage showed Danielson was not interacting with anyone while walking down a street with a can and expandable baton in hand. Reinoehl followed him, and reached toward a pouch or pocket in his waistband.
The shooting occurred off-camera shortly after.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Danielson died of a gunshot wound to the chest, the Multnomah County District Attorney said.
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Southsoundguy
Don't give them a cent of our tax dollars.
Friday, July 14, 2023 Report this
MaKane
One of the biggest points of contention regarding antifas ideology is the notion that assault by their own is "preemptive self defense", so the question raised in all violent interactions become, was it actually an imminent threat of bodily harm? Or a presumptive threat simply by having a differing view, the evidence in the Danielson death appears to be nothing less than cold blooded murder.
Friday, July 14, 2023 Report this