U.S. police kill suspect in fatal shooting of a Trump supporter in Portland
A far-left activist suspected of killing a right-wing protester in Portland was shot dead by police in Washington state as they tried to arrest him, local law officials said. The man, identified in US media reports as Michael Forest Reinoehl, was killed as he ran from four officers on Thursday evening, a spokesman for the Thurston County sheriff's office told reporters.
US law enforcement forces shot and killed a man suspected in the fatal shooting of a Trump supporter in Portland, Oregon Thursday night during an arrest, according to a report.
Michael Forest Reinoehl, self-described "100% Antifa" supporter was shot by officers during an encounter in Lacey, Washington, four law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation told The New York Times anonymously.
Antifa, short for "anti-fascist", is a far-left anti-fascist political activist movement that became popular in the US following the white supremacist Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017.
It is composed of groups, networks and individuals who believe in aggressive opposition to right-wing movements.
"As they attempted to apprehend him, there was gunfire," Lt. Ray Brady of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office said in an interview, adding the officers at the scene reported that the suspect was armed.
Portland police issued an arrest warrant earlier Thursday, the day an interview of Reinoehl was published by Vice News in which he had admitted to the killing of Aaron Danielson, 39, saying he "had no choice" and was defending a "friend of color".
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Twitter demanded a "fast" arrest of the man who killed Danielson.
"Why aren't the Portland Police ARRESTING the cold-blooded killer of Aaron "Jay" Danielson. Do your job, and do it fast," Trump said. "Everybody knows who this thug is. No wonder Portland is going to hell! he tweeted.
