Man killed by officers wrote threats against President Trump on bullets, police say

PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) - A man was shot and killed by officers who were serving an arrest warrant in the Portland area early Thursday morning.

According to the Portland Police Bureau, the investigation began last Saturday after officers responded to a call reporting a threat with a weapon at a Safeway store.

Officers said the man in question approached security at the Safeway, pulled out a gun and pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire.

Security pulled a backpack from him before he left the scene. PPB said a loaded shotgun was found inside the man’s backpack.

Authorities said threatening messages were also written on shotgun shells that were found, specifically naming President Donald Trump, and that he falsely identified himself as a Secret Service officer before pulling out the gun at the store.

“Because of the U.S. Secret Service angle, the fact that he was impersonating an agent, the fact that there was a potential threat to the president ... that prompted them to bring in the Secret Service as part of the investigation,” a PPB spokesperson said.

Through their investigation, police said they identified the man and where he lived. Officers then obtained an arrest warrant.

Officers and tactical teams served the warrant at the man’s apartment on Northwest 14th Avenue.

PPB said officers knocked and used explosives to blow down the door. They tried to speak with the man, but he did not respond. Officers then fired tear gas into the apartment.

According to police, the man came out of his apartment, into the hallway, carrying a handgun. Two officers fired, killing him after spotting the gun.

The man was not immediately identified by authorities. No officers were injured in the shooting.