An armed security guard at a Portland Jewish preschool shot a man in self-defense after being threatened in a parking lot near the school. No students were harmed, and police are investigating the incident, which officials say was not motivated by antisemitism.
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PORTLAND, OR (3-minute read) — A licensed armed security guard working outside The Gan Portland Jewish Preschool in Southwest Portland shot a man in self-defense on Thursday, May 8, according to school officials. The confrontation occurred in a parking lot between the preschool and the Fanno Creek Clinic, located in the 6600 block of Southwest Capitol Highway. Thankfully, no children or staff were harmed during the incident.
According to a statement from the preschool, the man approached and posed an immediate threat to the security guard, prompting him to respond with protective force using his legally carried firearm. Portland Police arrived around 11:50 a.m. and found the wounded suspect at the scene. He was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The guard, who remained on-site and cooperated fully with authorities, has not yet been publicly identified.
The director of the adjacent Fanno Creek Clinic, Dr. Gregg Coodley, rushed out to provide emergency care after hearing the commotion. He described treating the suspect’s chest wound, noting that the bullet had not exited the body. “There was like a bullet bulging out of the skin… I basically just put pressure there,” Coodley told KOIN 6 News.
Security Response Amid Heightened Concerns
School officials emphasized that the presence of armed security was a response to the rise in antisemitic hate crimes. However, police currently believe the shooting was unrelated to religious bias. The Portland Police Bureau has launched a full investigation into the incident, but so far has not shared further details about what led to the encounter.
Incidents like this highlight the complexities and responsibilities that come with armed security in high-risk or sensitive environments. Security professionals often undergo training in use-of-force protocols, legal limitations, and de-escalation techniques. In this case, it appears the guard followed lawful defensive practices in response to a credible threat.
Safety Tip: If you carry a firearm for personal or professional defense, always stay current with your state’s self-defense laws and regularly train to ensure both accuracy and judgment under pressure.
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