BREAKING: DHS immigration officers just shot a husband and wife in Portland, Oregon. DHS officers again claim that the car was going to “run them over.”

I spent 27 years in law enforcement. I’m not guessing here. A woman is dead. And we’re being told: “The agent felt threatened, so the shooting was justified.” That’s not how the law works. In policing, fear alone does not justify pulling the trigger. The standard is simple: Was there a real, immediate danger based on facts? Not panic. Not assumptions. We’re also hearing: “The car was a deadly weapon.” Sometimes that’s true. Often it’s not. Speed matters. Distance matters. Where officers stand matters. Good officers are trained not to put themselves in front of vehicles. When that happens, it’s usually bad planning, not bad luck. Another thing being pushed: “They’re federal agents, so they must know what they’re doing.” I’ve worked with local, state, and federal officers my entire career. A badge doesn’t cancel out poor tactics. Rushed operations get people killed. Here’s what experienced cops notice immediately: • No clear command responsibility • No explanation for safer options not being used • Chaos treated as unavoidable • Silence about releasing full video and plans They call it a “tragic incident.” Those of us who’ve done this work call it predictable. Accountability isn’t anti-police. It’s how officers go home. Cover-ups don’t equal law and order. Discipline, planning, and honesty do.

The shooting comes a day after a federal agent fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis