The Border Patrol Tactical Unit (Bortac) is a unit within the US Border Patrol, whose officers are being blamed for the shooting of two people in Portland, Oregon. Local police in the city insist their officers were not involved. Photo / Getty Images
The Border Patrol Tactical Unit (Bortac) is a unit within the US Border Patrol, whose officers are being blamed for the shooting of two people in Portland, Oregon. Local police in the city insist their officers were not involved. Photo / Getty Images
United States federal agents shot and wounded two people in the western city of Portland, Oregon, yesterday, police said.
The shooting came the day after a masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis, sparking widespread anger over the increasingly militarised presence of federalagents on US streets.
“Two people are in the hospital following a shooting involving federal agents,” a statement from Portland Police said.
The local police force, which stressed that its officers were not involved in the shooting, said it had received calls for help mid-afternoon.
“Officers responded and found a male and female with apparent gunshot wounds. Officers applied a tourniquet and summoned emergency medical personnel.
“The patients were transported to the hospital. Their conditions are unknown. Officers have determined the two people were injured in the shooting involving federal agents.”
The shooting happened near a medical centre, according to local media.
Broadcaster KATU2 said the injured people drove away from the scene of the shooting to an apartment complex, about 4km away, where they called for help.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed a US Border Patrol agent had opened fire, and claimed he had done so in self-defence while conducting what they said was a “targeted vehicle stop”.
“The passenger of the vehicle and target is a Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring and involved in a recent shooting in Portland,” the department said.
“The vehicle driver is believed to be a member of the vicious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
“When agents identified themselves to the vehicle occupants, the driver weaponised his vehicle and attempted to run over the law enforcement agents.
“Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired a defensive shot. The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene.”
The incident came just 24 hours after an ICE agent shot dead a 37-year-old mother in Minneapolis, in what the White House claimed was self-defence against “domestic terrorism”.
People visit a memorial set up where Renee Good was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo / Scott Olson, Getty Images via AFP
In that incident, President Donald Trump’s administration has repeatedly asserted that the woman, identified as Renee Good, had deliberately driven her car at the agent.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said the shooting in his city was the result of the flood of heavily armed federal agents as part of what Trump says is a crackdown on illegal immigration.
“Just one day after the horrific violence in Minnesota at the hands of federal agents, our community here in Portland is now grappling with another deeply troubling incident.
“We cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts. Portland is not a ‘training ground’ for militarised agents, and the ‘full force’ threatened by the administration has deadly consequences.
“As mayor, I call on ICE to end all operations in Portland until a full investigation can be completed.”
Wilson said he wanted residents to make their voices heard peacefully.
“I call on every Portlander to represent our values and to show up with calm and purpose during this difficult time. Portland does not respond to violence with violence.”
