Dozens from both movements descended on Vancouver from nearby Portland, Oregon, about 15 miles away, to riot about the death of Kevin Peterson Jr., a 21-year-old black man who sheriff’s deputies fatally killed Thursday night after he shot towards them, a reporter on the scene said.
The protestors infiltrated a group that gathered Friday evening to honor Peterson, who played football in high school and just had a new daughter.
Shortly before the candlelight vigil, hundreds chanted “Whose streets? Our streets!” and “Black Lives Matter!”. Marks on the fence of a bank parking lot nearby read “Scream His Name” and “Stop the Lynching.”
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Down the road were counter protesters of all kinds — some of them with weapons, others holding American flags, and pro-Trump flags. Then, tempers blazed. The sides went after each other.
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They pulled each other to the street, throwing jabs and kicking. They moved to break the windows of businesses, set American flags on fire, fired guns into the air and shouted at the police, reporter Andy Ngo tweeted.
“Death to your f–king empire,” yelled a man while burning a flag.
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In the group was Jarrett Byrd, a Black man, who came to show solidarity with Black Lives Matter.
“There's lawlessness in our law enforcement,” Byrd said.
Peterson’s family cherished their loved one on social media and asked why the Clark County Sheriff’s Office took so long to make the shooting public.
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“Kevin did everything for me … doesn’t matter what it was or what time he always came when i asked. I regret every argument please come back,” his girlfriend, Olivia Selto, said on Twitter. “I miss him so much already.”
Narcotics police, according to Sheriff Chuck Atkins, thought Peterson was marketing illegal drugs and met him in a motel parking lot. A chase followed. Peterson presented a handgun. The officers backed off and Peterson ran again.
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Soon later, three deputies shot Peterson. They found a handgun at the scene. Atkins expressed comforts to Peterson’s family and pushed the community not to rush to comment.
“There is always the potential for misinformation, doubt and confusion — and there may be those who wish to sow seeds of doubt,” he said in a statement.
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The investigation has been turned over to the Southwest Washington Independent Investigation Team, and the Camas Police Department is taking the lead, Atkins added.
Jake Thompson, a high school associate of Peterson, said he took pictures at the wedding of Peterson’s parents in Portland in 2018. On Friday, he posted a black-and-white photo of Peterson in a suit and bow tie as he flashed a big grin.
“I didn’t sleep much last night,” he said.
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