Two people were seriously injured Thursday afternoon in downtown Portland, in what police described as a major incident that drew a massive emergency response to the area around Southwest Broadway. The attack involved a box cutter, and an officer shot the suspect, who later died at a hospital.
A Chaotic Scene With Few Official Answers
According to KPTV, officers responded to Southwest Broadway after a report of an assault, and police said that 32 units responded to the area. KPTV reported that the two victims' injuries were serious and that they were expected to recover. Separately, KATU reported that officers were called to the area near Southwest Alder Street and Broadway around 4:30 p.m. following a reported assault; a later confrontation took place near Broadway and Washington Street. KATU reported that two people were cut with a box cutter, an officer shot the suspect during or after the attack, and the suspect died at a hospital. The victims' injuries were very serious but not life-threatening, the station reported.
Accounts of exactly where the response was centered have varied. KOIN reported that officers responded to the 700 block of Southwest Alder Street and described a scene spanning several blocks. KOIN also reported that police said the suspect died at the hospital and that no officers were injured.
The Assault and Officer-Involved Shooting
KOIN reported that the Portland Police Bureau confirmed an officer-involved shooting downtown Thursday. KPTV, KATU and KOIN tied the shooting to the assault, reporting that an officer shot the suspect during or after an attack in which two people were cut with a box cutter. Separately, Times Now reported that multiple people had reportedly been stabbed downtown Thursday afternoon.
The suspect was taken to a hospital and died there. Police had not released the suspect's identity or motive as of Thursday night.
Unverified Claims Circulate Online
Social media users also discussed the response. On Reddit's r/Portland, one commenter described roughly 20 patrol cars near their building and officers searching the area around 16th and Halsey, including under cars and bushes.
Hoodline will update this story as police release confirmed information about the victims, any suspect, and what led to Thursday's major incident in downtown Portland.
