Portland Police have released more information about the fatal officer involved shooting Wednesday night.
Officers were called to the Flavel Transit Center on a report of a man threatening people.
The first arriving officer at the scene was Officer Jacob Howell of the West Linn Police Department, assigned to the Transit Police Division. Officer Howell was in the early stages of his investigation into the report and was speaking with 24-year-old Terrell Kyreem Johnson, who was non-compliant and would not sit down. As Officer Samson Ajir and his brother Deputy A.J. Ajir arrived, Johnson ran from the officers -- first westbound on Flavel then back eastbound before running northbound on the MAX bridge over Johnson Creek.
Officer Ajir was in close proximity to Johnson when Johnson displayed a utility knife prompting Officer Ajir to fire his handgun multiple times, striking Johnson. After Johnson was down on the ground, additional officers arrived and approached Johnson with a shield for officer-safety, then began rendering immediate medical aid until paramedics arrived. Paramedics determined that Johnson was deceased. A utility knife was recovered from the scene.
Johnson does not have a fixed address and a family member has an active restraining order/protective order against Johnson.
According to Johnson's family, he has been struggling with drug addiction that they believe may have affected his mental health. Johnson has no mental health history on file with the Portland Police Bureau.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy today and determined that Johnson died of multiple gunshot wounds. Toxicology results are pending examination.
Officer Ajir has been placed on paid Administrative Leave until the conclusion of the grand jury, which is also standard procedure. Deputy Ajir and Officer Howell have been placed on paid Administrative Leave for three days as is standard protocol with their respective agencies.
Chief Mike Marshman and Mayor Ted Wheeler responded to the scene on Wednesday evening as well as representatives from the Office of Independent Police Review, Professional Standards Division, Training Division, Multnomah County District Attorney's Office, Forensic Evidence Division, TriMet, and various partner agencies included in the Transit Police Division.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Johnson family and the families of Officer and Deputy Ajir during this difficult time," said Chief Mike Marshman. "This is not the outcome anyone desires and it's distressing for all involved. We remain committed to full transparency and upon completion of the grand jury, we will ensure the entire investigation is released in a timely manner."
"I have been in regular communication with Chief Marshman about these events, and we agree that information should be provided to the public in a timely and transparent manner," said Mayor Wheeler. "As facts become available, we must acknowledge that this is a difficult time for the Johnson family and for the officers involved. My thoughts are with them."
As part of the use of force review process, the Bureau will conduct an internal review of the entire incident and the case will go before the Police Review Board (PRB), which is comprised of community members, Bureau members and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.
The photo of Johnson was from an April 29, 2017, arrest for bicycle theft.