Two people were wounded on Thursday afternoon after a shooting involving U.S. federal agents in the Hazelwood neighborhood of Portland, authorities said, triggering an FBI investigation and renewed public debate over federal law-enforcement operations in the city.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, officers responded to reports of gunfire shortly after 2 p.m. on Southeast Main Street. Local police confirmed that federal agents were involved in the shooting but said Portland officers did not fire any weapons. Minutes later, officers were called to a second location several miles away, where they found a man and a woman suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Emergency aid was provided at the scene before both victims were taken to a hospital. Their conditions have not been publicly disclosed.
Federal officials later confirmed that the agents involved were from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, part of the Department of Homeland Security. The FBI’s Portland field office has taken over the investigation, classifying the incident as an agent-involved shooting. Authorities have not released the names of the agents or the individuals who were injured.
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said the shooting occurred during a targeted vehicle stop linked to an ongoing federal investigation. Officials claimed the driver of the vehicle attempted to strike agents with the car, prompting one agent to fire in what was described as self-defense. Federal authorities also alleged the occupants were connected to organized criminal activity, though local police said they have not independently verified those claims.
The incident has prompted strong reactions from city and state leaders. Portland’s mayor called for greater transparency from federal agencies operating within the city and urged a pause on certain enforcement actions until the investigation is complete. Oregon’s attorney general announced that the state would review the incident to determine whether federal officers acted within the bounds of the law.
Community groups and activists quickly organized protests near downtown Portland and outside federal facilities, demanding accountability and raising concerns about the use of force by federal agents. The shooting adds to long-standing tensions in the city over federal law-enforcement presence and follows other recent agent-involved shootings elsewhere in the United States.
Investigators say the inquiry remains ongoing, and more details are expected to be released as evidence is reviewed and witness statements are collected.
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