Police AMBUSHED, Shot — Armed Suspect Loose

Police car with blue lights flashing at night.

A dangerous armed suspect remains on the loose after ambushing two Portland police officers responding to a routine call, highlighting the deadly risks law enforcement faces in America’s crime-ridden cities.

Story Highlights

Two Portland officers were shot and wounded while responding to a weapon threat call in Sullivan’s Gulch neighborhood
Armed suspect described as Caucasian male in mid-30s fled scene with handgun and knife, remains at large
Massive manhunt deployed, including SERT, K9 units, air support, and crisis negotiation teams
Attack follows recent surge in violence against law enforcement amid Portland’s ongoing crime crisis

Officers Ambushed During Routine Response

Portland Police Bureau officers from North Precinct were shot and injured Sunday evening while responding to a threat-with-weapon call near Northeast 17th Avenue and Northeast Clackamas Street. The shooting occurred around 8:21 p.m. when officers located the suspect on Northeast Clackamas Street between 16th and 17th Avenues. Both officers were transported to the hospital in stable condition, with unconfirmed reports indicating injuries to the leg, arm, and ear.

The suspect immediately fled the scene armed with both a handgun and a knife, prompting an immediate lockdown of the Sullivan’s Gulch neighborhood near Lloyd Center. Police established a perimeter and deployed over 90 units, including the Special Emergency Reaction Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, K9 units, air support, and unmanned aircraft systems. Road closures remain in effect as the search continues.

Dangerous Suspect Description Released

Authorities describe the at-large suspect as a Caucasian male in his mid-30s with facial hair, wearing a black baseball cap, a black jacket over a gray hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and black shoes. He was carrying a black backpack and a green shopping bag when he fled. The Portland Police Bureau’s Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation under case number 26-18537, urging residents to call 911 immediately if they spot the armed individual.

🚨BREAKING🚨:PORTLAND POLICE RELEASE SHOOTER SUSPECT PHOTOS ⚠️

Authorities say a mid-30s Caucasian male shot two officers. He wore a black cap, jacket over grey hoodie, black pants, carried a backpack, and is armed with a handgun and knife. Suspect is dangerous. pic.twitter.com/2HU2gy88OR

— The_Independent (@TheIndeWire) January 20, 2026

Chief Bob Day and Mayor Keith Wilson held an emotional press conference around 11 p.m. Sunday, with Day emphasizing the early stages of the investigation while Wilson highlighted the stark dangers officers face daily. The suspect’s motivations remain unknown, though the initial call involved a knife threat before escalating to gunfire against responding officers.

Portland’s Escalating Violence Against Police

This attack represents the latest in a disturbing pattern of violence against law enforcement in Portland. Just eleven days earlier, on January 8, two undocumented Venezuelan nationals with ties to the TdA gang were shot after “weaponizing” their vehicle against a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent during a traffic stop. The recent incidents underscore the growing dangers officers face in a city still grappling with the aftermath of 2020’s anti-police riots and rising gang activity.

The shooting has prompted community-wide safety concerns, with residents in the Lloyd District and Sullivan’s Gulch neighborhoods urged to shelter in place. The incident strains PPB resources at a time when officer morale remains fragile due to previous political attacks on law enforcement and ongoing staffing challenges. This direct ambush on arriving units represents a rare but deeply concerning escalation in anti-police violence that threatens public safety citywide.