Justice prevails as a federal judge dismisses a $1 million lawsuit brought by the family of Antifa activist Michael Reinoehl, who was killed by police after murdering a Patriot Prayer supporter. The ruling affirms officers acted appropriately when confronting the armed fugitive, a victory for law enforcement facing mounting pressure from anti-police activists.
Judge Sides with Law Enforcement in Antifa Activist Case
U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo delivered a decisive ruling in favor of the police officers who fatally shot Michael Forest Reinoehl during an attempt to arrest him in September 2020. The Antifa-aligned activist had fled to Washington state after allegedly murdering Aaron ‘Jay’ Danielson, a member of the right-wing Patriot Prayer group, during violent protests in Portland, Oregon.
Michael Reinoehl, a self-proclaimed anti-fascist, was wanted in the 2020 shooting death of a right-wing protester in Portland. A federal task force shot and killed him in Lacey. https://t.co/Zqtix00Fyn
— The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) April 7, 2025
Reinoehl’s family filed the $1 million lawsuit in 2023, claiming officers used excessive force by firing over 40 bullets during the confrontation. Their legal team alleged the officers failed to identify themselves and based their decisions on misleading information, further claiming Reinoehl’s pistol was unloaded and never drawn.
Details of the Fatal Confrontation
On September 3, 2020, a fugitive task force tracked Reinoehl to an apartment complex in Washington following a nationwide manhunt. Civilian witnesses described a chaotic scene with bullets flying through a residential area as officers attempted to apprehend the wanted suspect who allegedly pulled a gun while trying to evade arrest.
Federal lawsuit was just dismissed in the execution of Michael Reinoehl by US Marshals in 2020, a hit ordered by Trump during his federal assaults on PDX. https://t.co/GwgHhc06Fx pic.twitter.com/EdwaRiYxZg
— IncarcerNation.com (@IncarcerNation) April 7, 2025
The autopsy conducted on Reinoehl revealed multiple gunshot wounds to his head and chest, with his death officially ruled a homicide. Judge Estudillo determined that officers had a legitimate reason to fear Reinoehl, given his wanted status for murder and the potential threat he posed to law enforcement attempting to make the arrest.
Leftist Violence and Legal Aftermath
The original shooting occurred during a period of intense political unrest as clashes erupted between Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter protesters in Portland. The violence escalated when Reinoehl allegedly shot and killed Danielson during these confrontations, setting off a chain of events that led to the fatal police encounter.
“Trump, who was serving his first presidential term at the time, said Reinoehl was a ‘violent criminal’ and ‘there has to be retribution. ‘” – David G. Estudillo
Despite Judge Estudillo’s clear ruling, the Reinoehl family’s attorney has announced plans to appeal the decision. “‘We think he got it wrong, and we intend to appeal,’ Jesse Merrithew, the lawyer representing the Reinoehl family, told The Oregonian, indicating that this legal battle may continue despite the strong judicial opinion supporting law enforcement actions.