as seen on tv
Senator
Michael Reinoehl, sought in fatal Portland shooting after Trump rally, killed by officers in Washington
Reinoehl was wanted in Saturday night's fatal shooting of Aaron "Jay" Danielson. Portland police issued a warrant for his arrest earlier Thursday.
I'm one of the optimistic people who believe most police are good, and prefer to solve things without drawing their weapons. Like sheriff Andy Taylor, of Mayberry.
Michael Reinoehl didn't give anyone the chance. The subject of a 4 day manhunt, and finding his car boxed in by police vehicles, he emerged with his gun drawn, and apparently fired first. Officers returned fire.
Reinoehl probably had no intention of being taken alive. If he had, he could have retained an attorney, turned himself into police, and faced trial on his claim that his shooting of a man without a gun was a situation “where he had no choice”. Better to be judged by 12, than carried by six?
Reinoehl evidently believed his story wouldn't hold up if told to a jury of 12 fellow citizens. Hours before his gun battle with police, he set up a go fund me page to provide for his kids “if anything should happen to me”.
This would be his teenage daughter, who was in his car earlier this year when Reinoehl was arrested for driving under the influence of a controlled substance, in possession of a gun by a person prohibited. Oh . . before I forget, he was drag racing with his teenage son, who was in another vehicle, also under the influence.
Lets hold off on that father of the year nomination for now, okay? In any case, he was a minor celebrity as a skiboarder, some years ago. Dreams die hard, eh?
I'm not saying his kids are bettter off without him. Just that it was thoughtful of him to set up an internet money scam to care for them as he prepared to take down as many police officers as he could, before being shot. "You'll never take me alive, copper!"
The poor citizens of Mayberry – er, I mean Portland – are probably dumbfounded about what has become of their bucolic, picturesque community over the past few weeks. Throngs of out of state extremists- both ends of the political spectrum – toting weapons completely unsuitable for the deer and duck hunting seasons about to open.
I hope there's a silver lining here. Possibly the next time can we expect that . . .
- When an assault rifle is taken from a political agitator who is also a person prohibited, he can be at least held a few days in jail.
- When someone is drag racing on the streets while under the influence of controlled substances, his license can be suspended, or confiscated, or something?
- That political protestors leave their guns at home, and stop shooting each other down based on hats and placards?
One has to hope, I guess. But I'm not counting on it. Some agitators are already claiming that Reinoehl was unarmed, and wasn't resisting. Some people will believe anything, despite the body cam evidence.
