Daily London
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, said agents conducted a “targeted” stop of a car believed to contain two people associated with the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang about 2.19pm local time today.
“When agents identified themselves to the vehicle occupants, the driver weaponised his vehicle and attempted to run over the law enforcement agents,” the department said in a statement.
“Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired a defensive shot. The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene.”
Homeland Security alleged the passenger is an illegal immigrant from Venezuela with connections to the gang’s prostitution ring and involved in a shooting in Portland, while the driver is believed to be a member of the same gang.
Portland Police said they were called to a shooting at the 10200 block of Southeast Main Street in Hazelwood, outside Adventist Health Portland, and confirmed federal agents were involved.
Shortly later, they received a call that a man who had been shot was asking for help in the nearby Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside area.
Officers arrived to find a man and woman with gunshot wounds and applied a tourniquet as they called for paramedics.
The pair were taken to hospital in unknown conditions.
”We are still in the early stages of this incident,” Portland Police Chief Bob Day said.
“We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more.”
Yesterday, an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, 37, in her car while she was on a residential street near her home in Minneapolis.
Confronting video captured by bystanders showed the agents blocking a doctor from providing her with medical help.
The 10200 block of Southeast Main Street and the Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside area have been blocked off for police investigation.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, who has been outspoken in his opposition to Trump’s move to deploy the National Guard to the city, condemned the administration in a strong and emotional statement, saying federal militarisation undermines public safety.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“I will use every legal and legislative tool available to protect our residents’ civil and human rights.”
Wilson called on residents not to respond to violence with violence and asked them to show up with calm and purpose during this time.
“We must stand together to protect Portland,” he said.
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley said he had huge concerns over the shooting and was working to get answers.
“Please keep protests of Trump’s ICE/CBP peaceful, as Trump wants to generate riots. Don’t take the bait,” he said.
Trump this week ordered the remaining National Guards in Portland to stand down, but warned he would redeploy them to the city if crime rises.
“Portland, we got it down to almost no crime. We can go back. We’re allowed to go back in, but we’ll go back in when the crime starts,” he told reporters on Monday.
