In a strong defense of law enforcement and justice, a federal judge has thrown out a $1 million lawsuit filed by the family of Michael Forest Reinoehl, an alleged Antifa militant who was killed after murdering a Trump-supporting protester. The ruling marks a major win for police officers under fire for doing their jobs—especially when confronting violent extremists.

Judge Sides with Officers in Deadly Encounter

U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo ruled that officers acted reasonably and lawfully when they opened fire on Reinoehl on September 3, 2020, during an attempt to arrest him. Reinoehl had been wanted for the murder of Aaron “Jay” Danielson, a proud Patriot Prayer supporter gunned down during Portland’s left-wing riots.

Reinoehl had previously admitted to the killing in a video interview and was considered armed and dangerous. When law enforcement finally tracked him to Lacey, Washington, they say he attempted to flee and pulled a gun—triggering the deadly confrontation.

Despite the officers’ clear justification, Reinoehl’s family filed a lawsuit in 2023, claiming that authorities used excessive force by firing more than 40 rounds and failing to identify themselves. Judge Estudillo rejected those claims, siding with the officers and emphasizing that Reinoehl’s murder warrant and actions posed a real threat to public safety.

Federal lawsuit was just dismissed in the execution of Michael Reinoehl by US Marshals in 2020, a hit ordered by Trump during his federal assaults on PDX. https://t.co/GwgHhc06Fx pic.twitter.com/EdwaRiYxZg

— IncarcerNation.com (@IncarcerNation) April 7, 2025

Patriot Prayer Murder Sparks Manhunt

The chain of events began on August 29, 2020, when Aaron Danielson was shot in the chest during a violent night of clashes in downtown Portland. The killing shocked conservatives across the country. Reinoehl quickly fled the state and was tracked by a federal fugitive task force just days later.

The official report states Reinoehl brandished a firearm during the takedown. Witnesses reported a tense and dangerous scene in the residential neighborhood, but law enforcement said they had no choice but to neutralize the threat.

Family’s Appeal Won’t Change the Facts

Despite the clear justification, Reinoehl’s family is still pressing forward. Their attorney, Jesse Merrithew, told reporters:
“We think he got it wrong, and we intend to appeal.”

Michael Reinoehl, a self-proclaimed anti-fascist, was wanted in the 2020 shooting death of a right-wing protester in Portland. A federal task force shot and killed him in Lacey. https://t.co/Zqtix00Fyn

— The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) April 7, 2025

The family claims Reinoehl’s pistol was unloaded and never drawn, but that directly contradicts both the officers’ accounts and forensic evidence from the scene. Law enforcement officials insist the suspect’s behavior and previous crimes justified the level of force used.

This ruling sends a loud and clear message: Murder suspects cannot expect sympathy from the justice system, especially when their actions result in the death of peaceful Americans expressing their First Amendment rights.

If an Antifa-linked shooter had walked away a martyr and earned his family a million-dollar payout, it would’ve been a grotesque miscarriage of justice. Thankfully, the courts got this one right.

Sources:

Police Say an Antifa Activist Likely Shot at Officers. His Gun Suggests Otherwise. – The New York Times

Activist suspected in Portland shooting was fired at 30 times by police, official says | Protest | The Guardian