Alleged Home Invader That Sparked Police Shooting of Homeowner Who Called 911 Wanted 'Suicide by Cop': Complaint
Homeowner Says Invader Stated He Was There to Die
The man who was fatally shot by Oregon police after a homeowner called 911 to report an intruder had apparently intended to provoke officers into killing him, according to a lawsuit filed by the homeowner.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Portland, alleges that the homeowner, identified only as John Doe, called 911 on January 29, 2023, to report that an unknown man had broken into his home in the city of Gresham.
911 Transcript Released
According to a transcript of the 911 call released by the Gresham Police Department, Doe told the dispatcher that the intruder had broken a window to get into the house and was armed with a knife.
When police arrived, they found the intruder, later identified as 30-year-old Michael Reinoehl, inside the home. According to the lawsuit, Reinoehl ignored commands to surrender and instead charged at the officers with the knife.
The officers fired multiple shots, killing Reinoehl.
Complaint: Reinoehl Wanted Officers to Kill Him
The lawsuit alleges that Reinoehl had a history of mental illness and had previously expressed a desire to die by suicide.
The complaint quotes from a Facebook post allegedly written by Reinoehl in which he stated that he wanted to "go out in a blaze of glory" and that he was "looking for a way to die."
The lawsuit also alleges that Reinoehl had previously been arrested for trespassing and had made threats against police officers.
The lawsuit alleges that the Gresham Police Department was aware of Reinoehl's history and should have taken steps to de-escalate the situation.
Police: Homeowner's Actions Justified
The Gresham Police Department has not commented on the lawsuit.
However, in a statement released after the shooting, the department said that the homeowner's actions were justified.
The statement said that the homeowner was in fear for his life and that he had a right to defend himself.
