Multiple Lee County Sheriff’s units respond Exeter St. and Gorham Ave. sceneGov. DeSantis signs bills to improve the Florida student experience
Albuquerque police detain members of the New Mexico Civil Guard, an armed civilian group, Monday, June 15, 2020, in Albuquerque, N.M. A confrontation erupted between protesters and a group of armed men who were trying to protect a statue of Spanish conquerer Juan de O??ate before protesters wrapped a chain around it and began tugging on it while chanting: ???Tear it down.??? One protester repeatedly swung a pickax at the base of the statue. Moments later a few gunshots could be heard down the street and people started yelling that someone had been shot. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/The Albuquerque Journal via AP) Protests in three states Monday night resulted in a shooting, arrests and the closure of one city’s downtown. The Portland Police Bureau declared a civil disturbance and closed part of downtown, it said, after some protesters lit a fire, looted a store and injured an officer with a large rock. Vigilantes may have instigated violence that led to a shooting in New Mexico, according to officials. In Tennessee, troopers detained 21 protesters who refused to vacate Capitol grounds. Shooting may have been instigated by vigilantes A man was shot during a protest in Albuquerque’s Old Town Monday night, according to the Albuquerque Police Department. The victim was transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital and is critical but stable condition, authorities said. Police detained individuals involved in the shooting after using chemical irritants and flash bangs to protect officers at the scene near the Albuquerque National History Museum, a news release from the police department said. The police chief said he believes that vigilante groups might have been used to instigate violence. “We are receiving reports about vigilante groups possibly instigating this violence. If this is true, we will be holding them accountable to the fullest extent of the law, including federal hate group designation and prosecution,” Albuquerque Police Chief Michael Geier said in a news release. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said the shooting was a “tragic, outrageous and unacceptable act of violence,” in a tweet. “Our hearts go out the victim, his family and witnesses whose lives were needlessly threatened tonight,” Keller said. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham said that she is monitoring the situation and praying for the victim. She added that she does not approve of anyone who may have instigated the violence. “There is absolutely no space in New Mexico for any violent would-be ‘militia’ seeking to terrorize New Mexicans; and there is no space for violence of any kind on our streets and in our communities,” the governor said in a statement. Downtown Portland closed after officer injured In Portland, police declared a civil disturbance following tense interactions with demonstrators. One officer was injured after being hit in the head with a large rock, according to a tweet from the Portland Police Bureau. “Due to criminal activity, this has now been declared a civil disturbance. Downtown is now closed from SW Naito to Broadway and SW Lincoln to Harvey Milk,” police tweeted. “Please leave to the North — toward Burnside. We are advising crowd to leave now or be subject to arrest or use of force.” Police also tweeted that fires have been lit and one store was looted. Protesters were pointing lasers at officers protecting the Justice Center, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. They were also throwing projectiles at law enforcement. “We are advising the crowd to stop shaking the fence and throwing projectiles. We are here to protect the people who work in the Justice Center and the adults in custody who are living inside … Slingshots are launching objects and additional projectiles are being thrown at deputies. Stop throwing items, stop pointing lasers…” the sheriff’s office said. As a result of the unrest the police have closed downtown and made arrests, a tweet from Portland Police said. 21 detained in Tennessee Tennessee state troopers detained 21 protesters who refused to vacate the Capitol grounds late Monday night, Tennessee Highway Patrol said in a tweet. The demonstrators were told to leave by 11 p.m. or they would be arrested but refused to leave. After receiving several warnings, the protesters sat down and locked legs and arms, according to THP. The highway patrol said 21 protesters were arrested, 19 received citations and two were arrested for public intoxication.