Law Enforcement Prevented a Mass Shooting Event in Portland
On May 22, 2025, the Portland office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office interrupted a juvenile’s conspiracy to carry out a mass shooting.
The suspect reportedly also planned to use an improvised explosive device in the planned attack on the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Washington. The juvenile, whose identity was not released, was first reported to FBI Portland by a concerned member of the public on May 19, 2025.
The suspect was reported after sharing “nihilistic violent extremist ideology” along with specific plans for a mass casualty event in online chats, according to an FBI press release.
The FBI coordinated with local law enforcement to identify the suspect responsible for the threat. The suspect was placed under surveillance over concerns for public safety, and a federal search warrant was executed on May 22, prior to the arrest.
The suspect reportedly had a map of the mall with plans for a route the shooter would follow, along with a plan that involved the use of am improvised chlorine bomb to incite panic in order to shoot mall patrons as they fled a movie theater within the mall.
The suspect ultimately planned on committing suicide at an unspecified, pre-determined location in the mall. Initial contact with the subject was made by the FBI, however the arrest was made by local law enforcement on state charges and the Columbia County District Attorney’s office is prosecuting this case.
“This plot was as serious as it gets,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “We, along with our partners, moved swiftly to interrupt this violent plan and to protect our community.”