Clashes broke out between members of Proud Boys and Antifa in downtown Portland on Sunday evening. The conflict, which erupted after a slur was used against a Black man, soon turned violent after shots were fired.
While no injuries were reported, the police arrested Dennis Anderson, who was caught shooting in a video that went viral on social media.
![Portland Shooter Portland Shooter](https://data.ibtimes.sg/en/full/51395/portland-shooter.jpg?w=736)
Crowd Had Gathered to Attend 'Summer of Love: Patriots Spreading Love Not Hate' Event
Fox 12 reported that a group of 100 people had gathered at the old K-Mart on Northeast 122nd Avenue and Sandy Boulevard to attend the "Summer of Love: Patriots Spreading Love not Hate" event. The venue of the event, which was initially scheduled to start at 2 p.m., was shifted from waterfront to the parking lot of K-Mart.
I'm here in NE Portland where Proud Boys have flipped a medical van and are shooting paintball at passersby. Several cars have been totalled and the parking lot of a local high school was occupied briefly.
— Robert Evans (The Only Robert Evans) (@IwriteOK) August 23, 2021
No police on sight. pic.twitter.com/d3UtwjeMw7
Dustin Brandon Ferreira, a left-wing activist, told The Oregonian that an unidentified man used a slur against a Black man in the group following which multiple rounds were fired in their direction.
Proud Boys in Portland drag a guy out of his truck then destroy it and slash the tires. From @KOINNews pic.twitter.com/ijCnsmPxud
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) August 22, 2021
Speaking to the outlet, Proud Boys member Tusitala "Tiny" Toese said that the group had moved their event to the northeast side of the city to avoid any altercation with counter-protesters. "We relocated the rally to avoid the altercation and the violence between us and the people on the left, but if they do show up here, we're going to defend ourselves," Toese said.
Frank,
— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) August 23, 2021
Where are the Portland police?
You know if it was Black people in the streets today they would be there beating them down and arresting them in mass.
The Portland Police PROUDLY support the Proud Boys. https://t.co/f6Lgi4pqmQ
Anderson Was Caught Firing at Rivals
Multiple videos on social media revealed armed members from the rival groups engaged in clashes using improvised weapons including bats, shields, paintball guns, mace and fireworks.
In a video that has gone viral, a man wearing a cowboy hat is seen standing behind a trashcan on a street corner. He then goes on to fire shot across the street.
Active shooter in Downtown Portland. pic.twitter.com/xmjfGyrANm
— Sean Carmitchel (@ACatWithNews) August 23, 2021
The New York Post reported that the gunman was identified as 65-year-old Dennis G. Anderson. He was arrested by the cops soon after the shooting and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon.
Arrest made of the shooter. Will post more soon. pic.twitter.com/h466xxIj1r
— Sean Carmitchel (@ACatWithNews) August 23, 2021
"As stated before today's events, officers were not deployed to stand in between individuals intent on confronting one another," PPB said in a press release.
"But that does not mean the crimes committed will not be addressed. Arrests do not always happen in the moment. As in past such events, we are conducting follow-up investigations, gathering evidence and will make arrests when probably cause exists that specific persons committed crimes," it added.