5 things to know about the killing of Trump supporter Aaron Danielson in Portland
Are there any suspects?
While police have not announced any suspects or arrests, a law-enforcement official confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that Michael Forest Reinoehl, a 48-year-old who had been arrested and charged in June for illegal possession of a firearm that he took to a Black Lives Matter protest is a person of interest in the shooting.
Reinoehl identifies himself as a professional snowboarder and member of Antifa, a network of far-left, militant activist groups. He also has a Black Lives Matter closed fist symbol tattooed on his neck.
Reinoehl’s sister told WSJ that she and her family have left the family home because of threats. She confirmed that her brother used to be a professional snowboarder but said that he has been estranged from the family for at least three years.
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“He was just a figure that showed up every once in a while to demand money from Mom and then disappear,” she was quoted as saying.
According to Oregon Live, Reinoehl has posted videos online of demonstrations and rallies he’s attended since June. In those posts, he has used the hashtags #blacklivesmatter, #anewnation and #breonnataylor.
“I am 100% ANTIFA all the way! I am willing to fight for my brothers and sisters!” Reinoehl wrote in a June 16 Instagram post. “We do not want violence but we will not run from it either! If the police continue to pick on and beat up innocent citizens that are peacefully voicing their objections, it must be met with equal force!”
The newspaper also cited a source familiar with the investigation who named Reinoehl as a person of interest. Additionally, The Oregonian notes that a family member identified Reinoehl as the person captured in video and photos leaving the scene of the shooting.
Local news reports show that Reinoehl was charged on June 8 with illegal firearm possession, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence and reckless driving.
Court documents indicate that Reinoehl was issued a warrant after he failed to appear for arraignment on July 8.
On July 5, he was cited with possession of a loaded firearm at a Portland Black Lives Matter protest, resisting arrest and interfering with police activity.
According to The Oregonian, he was given a date to appear in court in late July but the allegations were dropped with no explanation.
Reporter Andy Ngo, who has extensively covered the violence in Portland for The Post Millennial, stated on Twitter that Reinoehl “was part of the Antifa protest outside Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s condo the night before Danielson’s death.
“He brought his 11-year-old child, who was armed with a bat,” Ngo reported. “He was close with Antifa black bloc.”
