The man who is the main suspect in the fatal shooting of a supporter of President Donald Trump in Portland, Oregon over the weekend recently took to social media to say that he is “100% ANTIFA” and “willing to fight” in the “war.”
Prior to this homicide, the suspect was also cited for carrying a loaded gun downtown and interfering with police last month — he was never prosecuted.
Sources with the Portland Police Bureau confirmed to the Oregonian that 48-year-old Michael Forest Reinoehl is now the prime suspect in the deadly shooting of Aaron Danielson, a supporter of the conservative “Patriot Prayer” group who was part of the caravan of Trump supporters that descended on Portland over the weekend in protest of the violent riots that have taken over the city in recent months.
Reinoehl’s Instagram page makes it clear that he has often participated in the Portland protests ever since the death of George Floyd back in May. He would often post disturbing messages there in support of Black Lives Matter, including one June message in which he described himself as a member of Antifa fighting in a “war” where “there will be casualties.”
“Every Revolution needs people that are willing and ready to fight,” Reinoehl wrote. “There are so many of us protesters that are just protesting without a clue of where that will lead. That’s just the beginning that’s where the fight starts. If that’s as far as you can take it thank you for your participation but please stand aside and support the ones that are willing to fight. I am 100% ANTIFA all the way! I am willing to fight for my brothers and sisters!”
“It will be a war and like all wars there will be casualties,” he added.
Reinoehl also often advocated for the defunding of the police, said “F**k Donald Trump,” and used hashtags such as “#anewnation.”
Last month, Reinoehl was cited for carrying a loaded gun and interfering with police during downtown protests, yet he was never prosecuted. The Oregonian reported:
On July 5 at one of the demonstrations, Reinoehl was cited at 2:10 a.m. in the 700 block of Southwest Main Street on allegations of possessing a loaded gun in a public place, resisting arrest and interfering with police.
He was given a date to appear in court later that month, but the allegations were dropped on July 30 with a “no complaint,” according to court records. The documents don’t indicate why prosecutors decided not to pursue the accusations. Reinoehl spent no time behind bars.
Reinoehl, who is a father of two children, has reportedly been estranged from his family for years.
“On the one hand, this whole thing surprises the daylights out of us, because we always thought he is a lot of bark, not a lot of bite,” his sister said. “But he’s also been very impulsive and irrational.”
Police are still investigating this shooting, and no charges have been filed yet.
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