Thread: Federal Officers Shoot Portland Protester In Head

Federal Officers Shoot Portland Protester In Head With 'Less Lethal' Munitions

by Jonathan Levinson Follow OPB July 12, 2020 7:23 a.m. | Updated: July 12, 2020 8:28 p.m.

UPDATE (4:15 p.m. PT) — Federal law enforcement shot and severely injured a protester Saturday night during demonstrations in front of the federal courthouse in downtown Portland.
Donavan LaBella, 26, was shot in the head by what friends and witnesses said was an impact munition.

Videos of the incident posted online brought swift condemnation from some local leaders, including both of Oregon’s U.S. Senators, who demanded answers from the federal government, and City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who asked that federal troops leave Portland immediately.

In one video, LaBella is seen pushing a canister of smoke or tear gas away from his feet across the street from the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse. Moments later, LaBella returns to holding a speaker over his head with both hands.

Shots of impact munitions can be heard, and LaBella collapses to the ground, dropping the speaker.

Warning: The following video includes disturbing images of violence and injury, including the moment when a protester appears to have been hit by law-enforcement “less lethal” munitions, as well as adult language. It was posted and shared on social media.

In another video posted online, LaBella is seen on the ground unconscious and bleeding from his head before protesters pick him up and move him out of the way. In that video, federal law enforcement officers can be seen standing by across the street looking on.

The violence Saturday night represents a dramatic escalation between police and protesters, who have been demonstrating nightly since police killed a Black man in Minneapolis six weeks ago named George Floyd. While Portland police took aggressive measures early on, the last two weeks have been marked by a significant increase in violence by federal officers assigned to agencies within the Department of Homeland Security as well as the U.S. Marshals that deployed to Portland, Seattle and other cities at the direction of President Trump.

Warning: The following video includes disturbing images including blood and a bleeding injured person, as well as adult language. It was posted and shared on social media.

Desiree LaBella, Donavan’s mother, said he suffered facial and skull fractures. He came out of surgery early Sunday morning and was responding to doctors. He was moving his arms and legs, Desiree LaBella said.

“He was awake enough to give the OK to talk to me,” she said. “He’s had some facial reconstruction surgery. They’re just watching him right now.”

Desiree LaBella said she planned to contact an attorney Monday for a possible lawsuit on behalf of her son. She spoke to her son via computer late Sunday morning and said that while he was awake, doctors were monitoring his neurological condition and continuing work to drain blood from his brain.

Caitlyn Sakelik, one of Donavan LaBella’s close friends, said he had been standing in Lownsdale Square Park across the street from the federal courthouse when officers started shooting impact munitions into the crowd. Sakelik’s husband, Elton Rosas, said the shooting was completely unprovoked.

“He’s been completely nonviolent the entire time he’s been down there,” Rosas said. “He helps deescalate situations. Out of all people, he’s one of the nicest kids you will ever meet.”

The U.S. Marshals put out a short statement late Sunday acknowledging a person was injured in downtown Portland. It said the agency is investigating.

“We are aware of the incident that happened on July 12 near the Hatfield U.S. Courthouse where an individual was injured while U.S. Marshals were securing the perimeter of the federal courthouse,” agency spokesperson Nikki Credic-Barrett said.

“The U.S. Marshals Service takes all injuries potentially arising from use-of-force very seriously. The incident is currently being investigated, and more information will be released as soon as possible.”
RELATED COVERAGE

President Trump Says Portland Police Are Incapable Of Managing Protests


During a military briefing Friday, President Trump indicated he sent federal law enforcement officers to Portland to quell the nightly protests over police violence, and claimed Portland police were incapable of managing the protests themselves.

“It was out of control. The locals couldn’t handle it,” Trump said, speaking to acting head of Homeland Security Chad Wolf. “And you people are handling it very nicely.”

The stepped-up force in Portland drew a rebuke from a number of elected officials on Sunday.

Gov. Kate Brown called for federal officials to scale back their response to the protests.

“The events of last night at the federal courthouse were the tragic and avoidable result of President Donald Trump, for weeks, continuing to push for force and violence in response to protests,” Brown said in a statement. “The cycle of violence must end. President Trump deploying armed federal officers to Portland only serves to escalate tensions and, as we saw yesterday, will inevitably lead to unnecessary violence and confrontation.”

U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley both called for answers from the federal government.
“Given President Trump’s misuse of force against protesters outside the White House and elsewhere, the deployment of federal agents in Portland raises serious concerns,” Merkley said in a written statement. “What was their mission? Did they abuse peaceful protestors? Were their uniforms accurately marked? Did they made the situation worse? What weapons did they use? Were they invited by Portland police or local officials?”

“The consequences of Donald Trump unilaterally dispatching fed’l law enforcement into U.S. cities played out in Portland w/a peaceful protester shot in the head,” Wyden wrote in a Sunday tweet.

“Trump & Homeland Security must now answer why fed’l officers are acting like an occupying army.”

Commissioners Jo Ann Hardesty and Chloe Eudaly criticized the response. Hardesty demanded that federal troops be withdrawn immediately. And she warned that violence by law enforcement — either federal officials or Portland Police — will have deadly results if not checked.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler had not responded to a request for comment by 8 p.m. Sunday.

Sunday afternoon, after elected officials had issued their statements, Desiree LaBella, Donavan’s mom, wasn’t happy with politicians blaming the President. She said she understands police may have to sometimes use force with violent protests but, she added, this shouldn’t be a political issue.

“In my opinion, the fault lies with the feds at the scene,” she said, “needlessly firing into a generally peaceful unarmed crowd and aiming for the head. It is my understanding that nonlethal rounds are not to be aimed at vital organs and no rounds of any kind should be shot at any unarmed person.”
Impact munitions are in wide use for crowd control by police departments across the country and, despite being called “less lethal,” they often kill or maim people. Even used when used as intended, they can break bones, cause heart arrhythmia or abdominal injuries. A blow to the head or neck can be fatal.

Federal officers have much wider latitude than the Portland police to use so-called “less lethal” munitions because the Portland Police Bureau and agencies under its command are limited by a temporary restraining order issued in June. That court order mandates PPB cannot use weapons like tear gas and impact munitions when people are engaged in passive resistance. The order likely would not extend to federal agencies conducting their own operations in Portland to protect federal buildings.

Federal officers used significant amounts of tear gas Saturday night to disperse protesters from several blocks downtown. They marched alongside Portland officers around 1 a.m. to break up groups of people who had gathered to demonstrate.

Though local and federal officers marched side-by-side, Portland police have repeatedly stated that federal agencies are operating separately from local command.

https://www.opb.org/news/article/fed...hal-munitions/

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Federal Officers Shoot Portland Protester In Head

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These articles fail to mention the many good reasons federal officers are needed in Portland due to the attacks on government facilities. If you attack government facilities and try to face off with police and soldiers, you are putting your health and life at risk.

Everyone should know that. But of course, the game of sparking a reaction then complaining about the reaction you elicited continues in the propaganda war from the left.

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Originally Posted by ALIPAC

These articles fail to mention the many good reasons federal officers are needed in Portland due to the attacks on government facilities. If you attack government facilities and try to face off with police and soldiers, you are putting your health and life at risk.

Everyone should know that. But of course, the game of sparking a reaction then complaining about the reaction you elicited continues in the propaganda war from the left.

More info @

Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Deployed To Portland Protests

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

These articles fail to mention the many good reasons federal officers are needed in Portland due to the attacks on government facilities. If you attack government facilities and try to face off with police and soldiers, you are putting your health and life at risk.

Everyone should know that. But of course, the game of sparking a reaction then complaining about the reaction you elicited continues in the propaganda war from the left.

05/29/2020 Violent anarchists broke a front window at the Hatfield Courthouse. Violent anarchists graffitied the Hatfield Courthouse. Overall, the cost of damages on federal property done by the violent mob this first night was estimated at $5,000. 05/30/2020 Violent anarchists graffitied the BPA Building. Violent anarchists graffitied the Hatfield Courthouse. Violent anarchists graffitied the Edith Green-Wenell Wyatt Building. Violent anarchists graffitied the Terry Schrunk Plaza. Violent anarchists graffitied the 911 Federal Building. Violent anarchists graffitied the Pioneer Courthouse. Violent anarchists graffitied the Gus J. Solomon Courthouse. 06/01/2020 Violent anarchists graffitied the Hatfield Courthouse. Violent anarchists graffitied Terry Schrunk Plaza. Violent anarchists graffitied The Pioneer Courthouse. Violent anarchists graffitied The Gus J Solomon Courthouse. 06/02/2020 Violent anarchists graffitied the U.S. Custom House. 06/06/2020 Violent anarchists destroyed fencing surrounding federal property. 06/07/2020 Violent anarchists damaged and breached the fence around the Hatfield Courthouse. Portland Police were forced to deploy crowd control spray to disperse a crowd that was throwing animal seed at officers. 06/08/2020 Violent anarchists broke a window at the Hatfield Courthouse while pelting the building with objects. Violent anarchists cut a hole in the fence surrounding Hatfield Courthouse. 06/10/2020 Violent anarchists removed the entire fence around Hatfield Courthouse and graffitied its front columns. Violent anarchists attempted to remove wooden barriers from a window on the Hatfield Courthouse. 06/11/2020 Violent anarchists dismantled a section of the fence protecting the Edith Green-Wenell Wyatt Federal Building. 06/13/2020 Violent anarchists destroyed the card reader at the Hatfield Courthouse by ripping it off its mount. Violent anarchists destroyed the fence at the Hatfield Courthouse. Violent anarchists threw metal pipes at the Hatfield Courthouse, causing Portland Police to issue a disbursal warning for unlawful assembly. 06/17/2020 Violent anarchists graffitied the Hatfield Courthouse. 06/20/2020 Among a group of over400 protesters marching in front of the Pioneer Courthouse, violent anarchists attempted to cause eye damage to officers with commercial grade lasers. Violent anarchists graffitied the Gus J. Solomon Courthouse. 06/25/2020 Violent anarchists vandalized an FPS camera at the Hatfield Courthouse. Violent anarchists breached the fence of the Justice Center, adjacent to the courthouse. 06/30/2020 Violent anarchists ripped down plywood covering the windows at the Edith Green-Wenell Wyatt Building, before breaking the windows. 7/01/2020 Violent anarchists graffitied new plywood covering the windows at the Hatfield Courthouse and ripped down plywood on the other side of the building. A group of over 200 violent anarchists blocked access to the building and proceeded to launch aerial fireworks at federal property. 07/02/2020 Violent anarchists broke a front window to the Hatfield Courthouse and attempted to enter the building. Violent anarchists refused orders to vacate the Hatfield Courthouse area, and instead launched fireworks and threw objects at officers, while attempting to cause eye damage with lasers. One explosive firework was shot into the courthouse. FPS law enforcement officers were forced to utilized crowd control measures for safety. 07/03/2020 After ongoing riots around the Hatfield Courthouse, crowds were dispersed only to make a return later into the night. Violent Anarchists broke the front window of the Hatfield U.S. Courthouse and shot fireworks into the building. Violent anarchists firebombed the building. Federal law enforcement extinguished the fire. 07/04/2020 Around 1,000 violent anarchists spray painted, threw rocks, and shot fireworks (including mortar style fireworks) at the Hatfield Courthouse. They also destroyed a security camera at the facility. A CBP team supporting FPS at the courthouse arrested suspects from the graffiti and camera vandalism incidents. The mob continued to throw rocks and paint-filled balloons, while attempting to breach the doors. Teams were forced to utilize crowd control measures for safety. Multiple individuals were seen carrying rifles, including the driver of a vehicle who attempted to strike a Portland Police Bureau officer with his care in front of the Hatfield Courthouse. 07/05/2020 A hostile crowd of about 250 violent anarchists returned to the vicinity of Hatfield Courthouse to vandalize and attack numerous facilities and police, while failing to comply with dispersal order. Violent anarchists surrounded and blocked law enforcement from the area as extremists proceeded to attack police with thrown projectiles and large mortar style fireworks. Two Portland Police Bureau officers were injured by the crowd (possible concussion). Portland Police Bureau took five into custody for directing lasers against aircraft. Violent anarchists set fires in front of Hatfield Courthouse and Chapman park. At the entrance of Hatfield Courthouse, Violent Anarchists fired large fireworks and threw other dangerous objects toward the entrance and the personnel protecting it. The mob was pushed completely out of the area of Hatfield Courthouse; FPS made two arrests during push. Portland Police made multiple arrests and found a loaded weapon on one subject. Two more violent anarchists were arrested, and one was found to be carrying what appears to be a pipe bomb. Violent anarchists assaulted construction crews by targeting them with fireworks while they repaired Hatfield Building. A joint team had to be deployed to create buffer between violent anarchists and construction crew to protect construction workers. 07/06/2020 Violent anarchists attempted to cause vision damage to personnel with lasers. Five arrests were made for assaulting law enforcement. 07/07/2020 Violent anarchists held a “Night of Rage,” in which a 400-500-person protest devolved into riots, assaulting law enforcement officers and federal property. Approximately 200 violent anarchists began pursuing law enforcement officers to disrupt enforcement actions, assaulting them with rocks and bottles. Around 150 violent anarchists in front of the Justice Center began attacking personnel with lasers and peppered the area with fireworks. Three violent anarchists were arrested for attacking law enforcement. 07/08/2020 Approximately 200 violent anarchists attacked DHS law enforcement officers while apprehending a subject who was wanted for property damage. One arrest was made after three law enforcement officers were injured. Law enforcement officers’ personal information was publicly exposed, including FPS, ICE, and CBP personnel. Violent anarchists continued to attack officers with lasers. 07/09/2020 Violent anarchists attacked DHS law enforcement officers while apprehending a subject who was wanted for property damage. A violent anarchist graffitied the Hatfield courthouse. An unidentified subject fired several shots from a gun into the air from the rear seat of a passing white SUV. 07/10/2020 Crowds of approximately 300 violent anarchists vandalized federal property and cameras with spray paint, blocked roadways, and assaulted law enforcement officers. Three were arrested for Assault on a Federal Officer. Violent anarchists attempted to ambush Portland Police Department PD during their shift change, but a DHS team was deployed and able to prevent any attacks. 07/11/2020 DHS law enforcement officers supported local police to help a violent anarchist who overdosed. Four violent anarchists were arrested, including one who attempted to assault an officer with a hammer. Violent anarchists sieged the barricade of the courthouse and tried to damage it with a large hammer. A law enforcement officer was assaulted with blows from a hammer. Violent anarchists fought officers while they were arresting those responsible. 07/12/2020 Six violent anarchists were detained and cited. A mob of 300 refused to comply with directions not to trespass on federal property. Another mob of 200 individuals armed with sledgehammers, tasers and/or stun guns, gathered in Chapman Park across from the Hatfield Courthouse. Violent anarchists launched fireworks, threw fecal matter and large objects, and pointed lasers at federal law enforcement officers. Violent anarchists deployed a plywood blockade while graffitiing the Edith Green-Wenell Wyatt Federal Building, before firing wrist rockets at the facility. When an arrest team was deployed to apprehend a rioter who encroached on a police barrier and refused to leave, they were assaulted by violent anarchists. A rioter trespassed on the steps of the Hatfield Courthouse and was confronted by federal law enforcement Officers, then swallowed a large amount of narcotics. Law enforcement called medical services after the individual started to convulse. Despite more orders to stay off of federal property and to cease unlawful activity, FPS was forced to push back violent anarchists. The Portland Police Bureau declared the mob an unlawful assembly. 07/13/2020 Violent anarchists released personal information of federal law enforcement officers to the public, publishing names of those in Portland. Violent anarchists continued to assault law enforcement officers with lasers, slingshots and fireworks. Others were armed with sledge hammers, tasers, and stun guns, and dragged flaming debris into the scene. 07/14/2020 Violent anarchists set a container of liquid on fire at the Terry Schrunk Plaza. Violent anarchists jumped a fence and attempted to breach the Edith Green Federal Building. Violent anarchists assaulted federal law enforcement officers with cans and other hard objects while they attempted to unblock the entrance of the Edith Green Federal Building. 07/15/2020 Violent anarchists doxed members of federal law enforcement. Violent anarchists attempted to damage the Hatfield Courthouse by throwing objects at it and spray painting it. Numerous fireworks were also lit. Violent anarchists trespassed on federal property and destroyed a card reader at the Justice Center. # # #

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