Camilla Jessen
Two wounded as federal operation turns violent in Portland.
A shooting involving federal officers in Portland has left two people hospitalized and sparked an FBI investigation. Details are still emerging as authorities work to establish exactly what happened.
What happened
According to the Portland Police Bureau, officers responded at 2:24 p.m. PT on Thursday to reports of a man and a woman who had been shot near Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said US Border Patrol agents had been “conducting a targeted vehicle stop” at 2:19 p.m. PT.
A senior law enforcement source told CNN that the victims were shot at a separate location and then drove away before seeking help.
Both victims were transported to hospital. Their current conditions have not been publicly confirmed.
Who was involved
McLaughlin said the driver of the vehicle is believed to be a member of the Tren de Aragua gang. She added that the passenger, who was the target of the operation, was a Venezuelan migrant “affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring and involved in a recent shooting in Portland.”
A senior law enforcement source told CNN the two victims were husband and wife. The source said the husband was shot in the arm and the wife was shot in the chest.
Authorities have not released the identities of those involved.
Investigation underway
The FBI is leading the investigation into the shooting. In a statement, the FBI’s Portland office described the incident as “an assault on … federal officers.”
Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said at the scene that the immediate priority was ensuring a full and thorough investigation. He did not comment further on the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Local police said they are assisting federal authorities as the inquiry continues.
Sources: CNN, Portland Police Bureau, Department of Homeland Security, FBI
