PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Following the deadly shooting that occurred in the area of Southwest 3rd Avenue and Southwest Alder Street, a crowd of protesters mobilized through streets of Downtown Portland sparking sporadic acts of violence and vandalism, according to the Portland Police Bureau.
Some of the protesters gathered near Lownsdale Square Park and continued on with a rally, police said. By about 11:30 p.m., however, speeches near the park ended and people slowly drifted away over the course of the next two hours.
Ten people were arrested following Saturday’s events; the majority of the charges included Disorderly Conduct and Interfering with a Peace Officer. Portland man, Darien Wright, 24, was also charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.
Previous Story
Demonstrators returned to the Justice Center and Federal Courthouse Saturday night hours after a deadly shooting in downtown Portland that happened near a “Trump 2020 Cruise Rally” and counterprotest, marking the 93rd consecutive night of political unrest in the city.
Saturday also marks three months since the first riot broke out in downtown Portland following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
One person was shot and killed on SW 3rd and Alder just before 9 p.m.; police have not released any information on a suspect. KOIN 6 News witnessed two men yelling and having an altercation. Someone sprayed mace and then someone pulled out a gun. KOIN 6 News heard shots fired. A wounded man was seen on the ground and the suspect took off running, according to witnesses.
A witness tells KOIN 6 News groups of pro-Trump protesters and counterprotesters were getting heated with each other just before the shooting.
Posts online originally called on people to meet at Laurelhurst Park in southeast Portland. Saturday evening, though, a location change was announced, ordering participants to show up at the Justice Center at 8 p.m.
The nightly demonstrations come just hours after a pro-Trump rally and car caravan that began Saturday afternoon at Clackamas Town Center and made its way to downtown Portland. Counterprotesters clashed with the group numerous times.
Around 8:20 p.m. Portland Police said there had been “instances of violence between demonstrators and counterdemonstrators” and that they had made arrests.
Police arrested 18 adults and one juvenile following Friday night’s march to the Portland Police Association building on North Lombard Street.
The Portland Police Bureau said some members of the crowd wheeled dumpsters into the road in front of the office and set at least one on fire around midnight. Then, several crowd members put a mattress against the door of the building and set it on fire too, according to police.
Most of the people arrested face charges like riot, interfering with a peace officer, and disorderly conduct, which the Multnomah County district attorney has said his office won’t prosecute. One person, 32-year-old Dustin Gross, was also arrested on a charge of attempting to assault a public safety officer.