Portland riot season kicks off with murder
But the Normandale homicide is the one that's going to set us back the furthest. It was the exteme right killing the extreme left. And for Portland, it means another summer of misery.
The dead woman is identified as June Knightly. She was 60 years old. She was playing unofficial traffic cop, a role she apparently had assumed for a while now at "protests." It cost her her life.
The suspect in her killing is reportedly a guy named Benjamin Jeffrey Smith. He's 43 or 44 years old, they say, and lived in an apartment across the street from the park. He also sounds like a major right-wing gun nut.
Someone in the protester crowd apparently shot and gravely injured Smith. Smith is reportedly in the hospital, although his brother says he can't find him in any Portland hospital.
The cops won't say whether they've arrested Smith, or where he is, but since he's reportedly in an intensive care unit somewhere, he probably won't be walking around any time soon. But the left is outraged that he's not under arrest. Late tonight, the cops were searching his apartment, more than 48 hours after the killing went down. They were seen walking out with an absolute arsenal. The authorities are being extraordinarily cagey about the whole incident, fueling many people's suspicions that they sympathize with the killer.
It seems the least they could do is arrest the suspected murderer.
UPDATE, Tuesday morning: Another mysterious aspect of the case is who shot Smith from the protester side. Apparently a guy with a rifle did. According to today's O, that person turned himself in at the scene, but after reviewing video from another protester, the cops let him go. As far as I can tell, he has not been identified.
It is sad that a woman, especially at her age, not only got caught up with these kinds of groups, but lost her life doing so. There are too many people putting their energies into pointless movements that accomplish nothing, and are futile at best. Being a “justice warrior” at age 60 is not a good look, and I will leave it at that out of respect for her.
ReplyDeleteThere are too many worthwhile causes that could actually use someone with time to spare, and who could actually help make a real difference. And that has been my beef with these groups all along. I’ve got nothing at all against protesting......hell, I spent a good chunk of my childhood on various picket lines with my parents. But those groups were non-violent and were actually trying to make real change. But if ‘ACAB’ is your groups slogan, I don’t see how you will be taken seriously.
The original post here mocked the idea that the murder victim was an "unofficial traffic cop." I have a friend who did exactly that sort of thing during the protests in summer 2020 in downtown. You remember those? When the cops were chasing and beating people? When mysterious agents with no identifying markings were kidnapping people off the street and holding them incommunicado for hours? Yes, sure, there were also bad actors in the mix: my friend who was a "traffic cop" estimated 5%.
DeleteCorrect me if I am wrong, but let’s say that a neighborhood wants to have a block party. Can they just legally put up barriers on their own and call it good? Of course they can’t, because it would cause issues with people who use the streets and everyone would do it when the whim struck.
DeleteNow add into the mix a group or collection of groups that have been known to cause disorder and who have a penchant for property damage, taking it upon themselves to close down streets and to “direct” traffic. What that sounds like to me is a recipe for trouble. Like I said earlier, I am surprised that something like this hasn’t happened sooner. Not that I enjoy reading about women getting shot and killed, but eventually some nutjob will take offense and blow his/her top.
It’s funny how a group that seems to disdain society, and especially the police, try to replicate the same institutions that they are protesting against. If this was where besides Portland, this would had happened long ago. Maybe these groups should do some soul-searching and realize that what they are doing is counter-productive. And I am not excusing the lunatic that shot them. He will get his day in court if and when he leaves the hospital.
You write that " I'm sure the police can't wait to arrest whoever fired the shot or shots from the protester crowd. That person is still on the loose." But in fact the very first reporting on this ugly affair stated that someone with a rifle turned himself in to the police. SO in what sense is he "on the loose"?
ReplyDeleteIf there was any reporting that said that, it must have been behind the Oregonian paywall. Today they posted some information for the rest of the world to see. This post has been updated to reflect what they reported today.
DeleteI believe he turned himself in but he was released on his own recognizance. I was curious about the gun he used. AR 15?
Delete"A man who fired at the attacker later turned in himself and his rifle to Portland Police. He was initially arrested on assault and weapons charges but is expected to be released and the allegations dropped." The Oregonian Monday, February 21st.
DeleteThanks. I don't do the paywall. No one else reported that. And that sure isn't the "very first reporting," as the commenter here as suggested.
DeleteFrom what I have read, some people at the scene did remove evidence and didn’t give statements to the police. Not that it changes matters now, and it could be the standard MO of the group, but still it is somewhat fishy. I am not a lawyer, but this might even give the defense lawyer for Mr. Furry a way to get a lesser charge or even a mistrial. I could be wrong though.
ReplyDelete