1 dead in Portland after Trump supporters, protesters clash

 One person was shot and killed in Portland, Oregon, as a large caravan of President Donald Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter protesters clashed in streets of city that has become a flashpoint in national unrest since George Floyd was killed.

It wasn't clear if shooting late Saturday was linked to fights that broke out as a caravan of about 600 vehicles was confronted by counterdemonstrators in city's downtown.

Police said caravan had left area around 8:30 pm, and officers heard gunshots around 15 minutes later . Officers arrived at shooting scene “within a minute,” police said, but man who was shot did t survive.

An Associated Press freelance photographer heard three gunshots and n saw police medics attending to victim, who appeared to be a white man.

freelancer said man was wearing a hat bearing insignia of Patriot Prayer, a right-wing group whose members have frequently clashed with protesters in Portland in past.

Police said man was shot in chest. He was t immediately identified. It's unclear who shot him. Homicide detectives were looking for more evidence, ackwledging that several ims and videos had been posted on social media.

“It is important for detectives get a full and accurate picture of what happened before, during, and after shooting,” a police statement said.

“If anyone was a witness, has video, or has information about homicide, y're asked to contact primary detectives.” "This violence is completely unacceptable and we are working diligently to find and apprehend individual or individuals responsible,” Chief Chuck Lovell said.

Portland has been site of nightly protests for more than three months since police killing of Floyd in Minneapolis. Many of m end in vandalism and violence, and hundreds of demonstrators have been arrested by local and federal law enforcement since late May.

In two hours following shooting, protesters gared downtown and re was sporadic fighting and vandalism, police said.

Ten people were arrested, police said.

caravan had arrived downtown just as a planned protest was getting underway.

chaotic scene came two days after Trump invoked Portland as a liberal city overrun with violence in a speech at Republican National Convention as part of his “law and order” re-election campaign me. caravan marked third Saturday in a row that Trump supporters have rallied in city.

On Sunday, Trump issued a flurry of tweets and retweets including several that blamed Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler for death and one in which president appeared to be encouraging his supporters to move into Portland.

“GREAT PATRIOTS!” Trump wrote as he shared video of his supporters driving into Portland to confront protesters.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf blamed local officials for failing "to protect ir communities.” “I'm asking Portland officials, so that's mayor, that's goverr and that's local law enforcement, to do ir job to address any violent activity that is occurring in ir streets,” Wolf told CBS' “Face Nation.” Wolf said federal government was prepared to send nts to Portland and or cities to protect federal buildings and assist police.

When federal nts increased ir presence in downtown Portland in July, city saw some of largest protests of summer, with thousands of people turning out nightly.

crowds dissipated after nts withdrew and State Police agreed to protect federal buildings for a two-week period.

Trump and or speakers at last week's Republican convention evoked a violent, dystopian future if Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden wins in vember and pointed to Portland as a cautionary tale for what would be in store for Americans.

pro-Trump rally's organizer, who recently coordinated a similar caravan in Boise, Idaho, said in a video posted Saturday on Twitter that attendees should only carry concealed weapons and route was being kept secret for safety reasons.

caravan had gared earlier in day at a suburban mall and drove as a group to heart of Portland. As y arrived in city, protesters tried to stop m by standing in street and blocking bridges.

Video from scene showed sporadic fighting, as well as Trump supporters firing paintball pellets at opponents and using bear spray as counterprotesters threw things at Trump caravan.

Black Lives Matter demonstrations usually target police buildings and federal buildings. Some protesters have called for reductions in police budgets while city's mayor and some in Black community have decried violence.