January 9, 2026 l Reporter: Johnson
PORTLAND, Ore. — Two individuals were shot and wounded Thursday afternoon in a confrontation involving U.S. federal agents in southeast Portland, according to local police and federal authorities. Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers responded to reports of gunfire near the 10200 block of Southeast Main Street at approximately 2:18 p.m. and determined that federal agents were involved in the incident.
Police found a man and a woman with apparent gunshot wounds at a nearby residential area after a call for help, applied tourniquets, and summoned emergency medical personnel. Both victims were transported to a hospital, and their conditions remain unknown. PPB officials stressed that local police were not involved in the shooting itself and that their role was limited to responding to the scene and rendering aid.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is leading the investigation into the shooting, which Portland Police Chief Bob Day described as in its “early stages.” He urged the community to remain calm amid heightened tensions following national controversies over federal law enforcement actions.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the shooting occurred during what was described as a “targeted vehicle stop” by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. DHS officials stated that the vehicle’s driver allegedly “weaponized” his car in an attempt to run over the agents, prompting one of them to fire a defensive shot. Both the driver and passenger left the scene and were located by Portland police a short distance away with injuries.
Local and state officials have expressed skepticism about the federal account and called for transparency. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and other city leaders urged a full and independent investigation into the actions of federal agents, insisting that the use of force must be thoroughly scrutinized.
The incident comes amid heightened national scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement, following another high-profile shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis one day earlier.