On the evening of February 19, 2022, June Knightly, a 60-year-old White/Caucasian woman, was shot and killed in Portland, Oregon. Knightly, a long-time activist for racial justice and LGBTQ+ rights, was volunteering at a demonstration against police violence near Normandale Park. She and a small group were preparing to act as "corkers," a role that involves managing traffic to ensure the safety of marchers.
Knightly was known for her dedication to de-escalation and creating a safe environment at such events.
A man, later identified as Benjamin J. Smith, who lived in an apartment near the park, approached the group and began yelling at them, demanding they leave. Witnesses reported that the volunteers attempted to de-escalate the situation, asking Smith to go home. Instead, he became more aggressive, drew a handgun, and opened fire on the group. Knightly was fatally shot in the head. Four other women were also shot and seriously injured, one of whom was paralyzed from the neck down. The attack was brought to an end when an armed bystander returned fire, critically injuring Smith.
The aftermath of the shooting was chaotic, with initial reports from the Portland Police Bureau describing it as a "confrontation" between "armed protesters" and an "armed homeowner." This characterization was later disputed by witnesses and survivors, who maintained that the victims were unarmed and the attack was unprovoked. Video evidence from the scene later supported the accounts of the survivors.
Benjamin Smith, 44 at the time, was arrested and charged with a multitude of crimes, including one count of second-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder, and four counts of assault. In the lead-up to the shooting, Smith had been reported to law enforcement on multiple occasions for his violent behavior and racist outbursts, and the FBI had conducted a threat assessment on him in 2021. In March 2023, Smith pleaded guilty to all nine charges against him. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 55 years.
