Officers AMBUSHED — Massive Manhunt Launched

Two Portland police officers answered a routine threat call Monday night and became victims themselves when a suspect opened fire, sending both to the hospital and triggering the largest manhunt in the city’s recent memory.

Story Snapshot

Two Portland officers shot and wounded while responding to threat-with-weapon call near Lloyd Center on Monday evening
Both officers hospitalized in stable condition; suspect remains at large despite massive search involving nearly 90 police units
Suspect described as armed Caucasian male in mid-30s with facial hair, considered extremely dangerous
Incident highlights escalating dangers faced by law enforcement during routine community service calls

Ambush in the Gulch

At 8:21 p.m. on January 19, 2026, Portland Police officers responded to what seemed like another standard evening call. A threat-with-weapon report had come in from Northeast Portland’s Sullivan’s Gulch neighborhood, near the bustling Lloyd Center area. When officers located their suspect on Northeast Clackamas Street between 16th and 17th Avenues, the situation turned deadly in seconds.

The suspect immediately opened fire on the responding officers, striking both before fleeing on foot into the neighborhood. Within minutes, ambulances rushed the wounded officers to local hospitals where they remain in stable condition. The gunman vanished into the residential area, beginning what would become one of Portland’s most intensive police searches.

Massive Manhunt Mobilizes

Portland Police deployed nearly every available resource in their desperate search for the shooter. Tactical teams, K9 units, air support, and unmanned aircraft systems scoured the Lloyd District through the night. Residents received urgent warnings to lock their doors and windows as officers established a perimeter around the area.

The suspect’s description spread quickly through emergency channels: a Caucasian male in his mid-30s with facial hair, wearing a black baseball cap, black jacket over a gray hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and black shoes. He was last seen carrying a black backpack and green shopping bag, believed to be armed with both a knife and handgun.

Community Under Siege

Streets closed. Businesses locked down. Families huddled inside their homes as nearly 90 police units flooded the neighborhood. The extensive search operation continued through the early morning hours of Tuesday, transforming the typically quiet residential area into an armed camp. Despite the overwhelming police presence, dawn broke with empty hands.

Mayor Keith Wilson’s sobering assessment captured the gravity of the situation: “This is a stark reminder of the dangers of the job.” Chief Bob Day, acknowledging heightened community tensions, urged residents to “remain calm as we work to learn more.” But calm proves elusive when an armed cop-shooter remains loose in your neighborhood.

Dangerous Precedent

This brazen attack represents a disturbing escalation in anti-police violence. The officers weren’t serving a high-risk warrant or confronting known criminals—they were simply responding to a community member’s call for help. The suspect’s immediate resort to lethal force suggests a premeditated willingness to kill law enforcement, raising serious questions about public safety and the war on police.

The Portland Police Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation, treating this as an attempted murder case. They’re requesting public assistance through multiple channels: 911 for immediate sightings, tips to [email protected], or calling 503-823-0479. The suspect remains armed, dangerous, and should not be approached under any circumstances.