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Updated 23:30 GMT - Portland officials confirm two individuals hospitalized after federal agents fired during a traffic stop.
Shooting leaves two wounded
Two people were injured Thursday afternoon in Portland, Oregon, after federal agents opened fire during a traffic stop, according to local and federal authorities. The man and woman, whose identities remain undisclosed, were transported to a hospital with unknown injuries.
Incident details
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported the confrontation occurred at 2:19 p.m. local time (22:19 GMT) when agents attempted to stop a vehicle linked to a Venezuelan national. The driver, described as a member of the Tren de Aragua gang, allegedly accelerated toward officers after they identified themselves.
"Fearing for their safety, an agent discharged a firearm in self-defense," DHS stated. The driver fled the scene with a passenger before crashing nearby, where the two injured individuals were later found.
"The passenger is a Venezuelan illegal alien tied to the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring and involved in a recent Portland shooting," DHS added.
Police response
Portland Police Bureau (PPB) clarified its officers were not involved in the initial stop but arrived after reports of gunfire. Officers administered first aid, including a tourniquet, before paramedics transported the victims.
"Their conditions are not yet known," PPB said in a statement. Local media, citing police sources, identified the wounded as a married couple.
Investigation and political fallout
Portland District Attorney Nathan Vasquez, speaking at the scene, pledged a "thorough and complete investigation" to preserve evidence and establish facts. The FBI is leading the probe, with Chief Bob Day urging community calm amid heightened tensions following a fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Mayor Keith Wilson, a Democrat, demanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) suspend operations in Portland pending the investigation. "The federal government's account cannot be taken at face value," he said, accusing the administration of sowing division.
Broader context
Portland has seen sustained protests against federal law enforcement, including large demonstrations during the Trump administration. On Wednesday, police arrested a protester accused of brandishing a knife.
State Senator Lew Frederick (D) told the BBC that excluding local officials from the investigation would undermine public trust. "Tensions have been escalating for weeks," he said, calling the shooting "foreseeable."
