Michael Reinoehl, a suspect in the murder of a right-wing extremist in Portland last Saturday, was killed Thursday (September 3) as police attempted to arrest him in Olympia, Wash.
"The suspect presented a firearm, threatening the lives of law enforcement officers," the spokesman for the US Marshals Service said in a statement.
An investigation has been assigned to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.
"Shots were fired inside the vehicle. The individual fled the vehicle, and more shots were fired," his spokesperson said, adding that he could not provide more details.
"It looked like fireworks because there were so many shots," said a passerby in a video posted on the Internet.
An anti-fascist activist
Michael Reinoehl, in charge of security at the protests in Portland of the Black Lives Matter movement against racism and police violence, is suspected of having killed Aaron Danielson, 39, a group supporter of Donald Trump on Saturday evening who was patrolling in a pickup truck in downtown Portland and clashed with protesters.
Portland has been the scene of frequent clashes between far-left and far-right demonstrators since the renewed protest against police brutality and racism triggered by the death of George Floyd at the end of May in Minneapolis.
This African-American died of suffocation when he was arrested by the police.
In a video, Michael Reinoehl admitted to shooting Aaron Danielson, adding that he acted in self-defense for fear of being stabbed.
"I had no choice. I could have just stood there and let them kill one of my colored friends. But that wasn't my intention."
In messages posted on social networks, Michael Reinoehl described himself as a professional snowboarder, veteran of the US Army and "100% antifa", in reference to the anti-fascist movement in the United States.
Donald Trump, who on Monday defended a 17-year-old accused of killing two anti-racist protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin last week, on Thursday called for the arrest of Michael Reinoehl, whom he accused of 'be a "cold blooded killer" and a "thug".
With Reuters
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