Michael Reinoehl, the suspected killer in Portland, Oregon Aug. 29 of Aaron J. Danielson — the young man who was wearing a “Patriot Prayer” hat — was himself killed during an attempted arrest on Thursday evening, Sept. 3. Danielson was said to have tried to spray mace, which in Reinoehl’s fantasy-world was an attempted murder.
Reinoehl was interviewed on Vice News earlier on Sept. 3, where he referred to the shooting of Danielson: “I had no choice. I mean, I had a choice, I could’ve sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color. But I wasn’t going to do that.” Reinoehl was a white, lean 48-year-old Antifa activist from the Lacey, WA area, a couple of hours north of Portland, who was a fixture in the Portland demonstrations, self-deployed as an unofficial “security officer” defending the protest from enemies. (With no little irony, Reinoehl’s explanation, and evident action, was worse than that of any police officer that he and his cohorts had accused.) Less than two months ago, he had been charged with resisting arrest and for carrying a loaded weapon to the protest — but the charges were dropped.
The comments from fellow protesters upon learning of Reinoehl’s demise, describe the alternate reality that has set in amongst the protesters. Co-protester Randal McCorkle said: “Nightly, he would break up fights. He wanted change so badly.” Reese Monson, a protest leader: Reinhoehl was trained in de-escalation: “He was excellent at that.” Protest organizer Teal Lindseth: “He was literally a guardian angel. He would protect you no matter what.”
