Protester killed amid Portland clash
President Trump, city’s mayor trade blame for escalation of violence.
A man who PORTLAND, ORE. — was fatally shot after supporters of President Donald Trump clashed with left-wing protesters on the streets of Portland, Oregon, was a supporter of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer, its founder said Sunday.
JoeyGibson, head of the group based in Washington state, told TheAssociatedPress themanwho was shot to death Saturday night was a “good friend,” although he did not identify him.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump and Portland Mayor
Ted Wheeler blamed each other for the violence. Trump called Wheeler a “fool” on Twitter and said to “Bring in the National Guard!” while Wheeler blamed Trump for creating such a toxic environment.
“It’s you who have created the hate and the division,” the Democratic mayor said of Trump. “You’ve tried to divide us more than any other fifigure inmodern
history. And now you want me to stop the violence that you helped create.”
Trumphadearlier issued a flflurryoftweets andretweets, including several blaming Wheeler for the death and one in which the president appeared to be encouraging his supporters to move into Portland. “GREAT PATRIOTS!” Trump wrote as he shared video of his supporters driving into Portland to confront the protesters.
Gibson said he was in Portland on Saturday night when the Trump supporters clashedwith Black Lives Matter protestersdowntown. Gibson arrived at the scene
of the shooting shortly after it happened and video from the scene showed he was brieflfly corralled in a nearby
gas station by angry protesters.
“I can’t say much right now. All I cando is verify that he was a good friend and a supporter of Patriot Prayer,” Gibson said of the shooting victimin a text exchange. He said he wouldmake a fuller statement later Sunday.
Police issued a plea for any information related to the killing, including videos, photos or eyewitness accounts. The shooting happened about 15minutes after a caravan of about 600 vehicles that were part of a proTrump rally left downtown.
It wasn’t clear if the shootingwas relatedto the clashes between Trump supporters and counterprotesters in Portland, whichhas become a flflashpoint in the national Black Lives Matter protests sinceGeorgeFloydwas killed in May and an increasing centerpiece in Trump’s lawandcampaign theme.
Police have not released any information about the case but saidtheywereaware of videos on social media that showed the shooting.
“It is still early inthis investigation, and I ask everyone to give the detectives time to do their important work before drawing conclusions aboutwhat took place,” said Police Chief Chuck Lovell.
“If anyone can provide information about this case, I ask them to please reach out to our detectives. This violence is completely unacceptable andwe areworking diligently to fifind and apprehend the individual or individuals responsible.”
An Associated Press freelance photographer heard three gunshots andthensaw police medics attending to the victim, who appeared to be awhiteman. The freelancer said the man was wearing a hat bearing the insignia of Patriot Prayer.
Police said the man was shot in the chest. He was not immediately identifified. It’s unclear who shot him.
Portland has been the site of nightly protests formore than threemonths since the police killing of Floyd inMinneapolis. Many of themend in vandalism and violence, and hundreds of demonstrators have been arrested.
Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat who has feuded with Trump, said in a statement that Trump has “encouraged division and stoked violence” inAmerican cities — now including Portland.