An investigation continues at the scene near the 10000 block of Main Street in Portland where two people were shot and wounded Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent in East Portland, according to the Portland Police Bureau and the FBI.
Eli Imadali / OPB
Thursday afternoon, a U.S. Border Patrol agent shot a man and woman during an attempted traffic stop in East Portland, according to local and federal law enforcement officials. Responding to a report of a shooting, Portland police found the people who were shot and applied first aid before the two were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the Portland shooting occurred as Border Patrol agents were stopping a vehicle. She claimed the driver and passenger were members of a Venezuelan gang and that the driver attempted to run over the federal agents, prompting one of the agents to open fire in self-defense.
According to Portland Police Chief Bob Day, the FBI is leading an investigation into the shooting. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said the Oregon Department of Justice would open its own investigation. Federal, state and local officials, including Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, condemned the shooting. Portland police said they made six arrests during a protest Thursday night outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in South Portland that attracted hundreds of people.
The shooting in Portland happened just one day after an ICE agent shot and killed a U.S. citizen, Renee Nicole Good, in Minneapolis.
Joining us for more details is OPB reporter Joni Auden Land.
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