Portland, Oregon – A U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and wounded a man and a woman Thursday afternoon during a targeted vehicle stop in East Portland, an incident now under FBI investigation, as city leaders urged calm and residents gathered for protests outside a federal immigration facility.
The Department of Homeland Security said agents were conducting a targeted stop when the driver attempted to use the vehicle as a weapon, prompting an agent to fire rounds before the vehicle fled.
Portland Police Chief Bob Day said the bureau was still working to learn more about what happened. The FBI characterized the case as an investigation into an assault on a federal officer.
Hundreds gathered outside Portland’s ICE facility. City and state officials called for calm while the investigation proceeds.
Field Lessons are offered strictly as general, industry-standard reminders drawn from common safety practices and typical policy considerations. They are not based on any inside knowledge of this specific incident, do not presume what actions were taken, and should not be interpreted as commentary on the decisions made at the scene.
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Treat every vehicle contact as a positioning issue. Use angles, distance, and cover that reduce the chance of being pinned or struck.
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Use clear verbal commands and assign roles early so that one officer communicates while others focus on handling, movement, and the surrounding area.
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By their nature, vehicle stops are unknown because the vehicle is the driver’s / passenger(s)’ environment. Watch for pre-incident behaviors that may indicate potential violence. They may include arguing, reaching, lack of eye contact, etc.
- If indicators emerge, consider removing the occupant(s) from the vehicle (environment).
Dr. Travis Yates has pioneered a behavioral risk framework to help officers and leaders identify, assess, and articulate risk in rapidly evolving, uncertain situations. Find out more about the FOCUS Behavioral Risk Framework.
