Pain palpable 2 years after Normandale Park shooting

Joelle Jones
·3 min read

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — It’s been 2 years since Benjamin Smith opened fire on racial justice demonstrators in Portland’s Normandale Park, killing one woman and wounding 5 other people.

Smith eventually pleaded guilty to 9 charges, including murder, and is now serving a life sentence.

But on this anniversary, the pain of that day was palpable for people who gathered at the park with flowers and signs to remember June Knightly. Those who attended also said this is about reclaiming the narrative after initial reports about the shooting from Portland police and the media shared some misinformation.

Letha Winston with Justice for Patrick Kimmons at a memorial in Portland's Normandale Park, February 19, 2024 (KOIN)
Letha Winston with Justice for Patrick Kimmons at a memorial in Portland’s Normandale Park, February 19, 2024 (KOIN)

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Letha Winston, the lead organizer of Justice for Patrick Kimmons, said the rally at Normandale Park on February 19, 2022 was about her son’s death.

Court documents said Smith yelled at a group of the demonstrators, then pulled out a gun and fired.

Winston said Monday the false statements from police — labeling the group as “armed protesters” only to later correct it when it was found they were not armed — added insult to injury.

“It’s a lie. They (police) bashed us, they threw us under the bus. They continue to throw us under the bus when we simply want justice,” Winston said.

“I have been serving the community for five years since Patrick Kimmons’ death,” Winston said. “And then my comrade dead by massacre shooter, five others injured by a massacre shooter. When is enough gonna be enough here in Portland?”

Brandy “June” Knightly in an undated photo. Knightly, 60, was shot to death in Portland’s Normandale Park on February 19, 2022
Brandy “June” Knightly in an undated photo. Knightly, 60, was shot to death in Portland’s Normandale Park on February 19, 2022
Police respond to a fatal shooting in the area of Normandale Park in Northeast Portland on Saturday evening, Feb. 19, 2022. (Mark Graves/The Oregonian via AP)
Police respond to a fatal shooting in the area of Normandale Park in Northeast Portland on Saturday evening, Feb. 19, 2022. (Mark Graves/The Oregonian via AP)
A search warrant was served at an apartment at Rose City Terrace as part of the Normandale Park shooting investigation, February 21, 2022 (KOIN)
A search warrant was served at an apartment at Rose City Terrace as part of the Normandale Park shooting investigation, February 21, 2022 (KOIN)
Portland Police search an apartment in connection with Normandale Park shooting
A search warrant was served at an apartment at Rose City Terrace as part of the Normandale Park shooting investigation, February 21, 2022 (KOIN)
Candles and graffiti at the scene of a makeshift memorial in Portland’s Normandale Park one day after a shooting left one woman dead and 5 others wounded, February 20, 2022 (KOIN)
Candles and graffiti at the scene of a makeshift memorial in Portland’s Normandale Park one day after a shooting left one woman dead and 5 others wounded, February 20, 2022 (KOIN)
Candles and graffiti at the scene of a makeshift memorial in Portland’s Normandale Park one day after a shooting left one woman dead and 5 others wounded, February 20, 2022 (KOIN)
Candles and graffiti at the scene of a makeshift memorial in Portland’s Normandale Park one day after a shooting left one woman dead and 5 others wounded, February 20, 2022 (KOIN)
Candles and graffiti at the scene of a makeshift memorial in Portland's Normandale Park one day after a shooting left one woman dead and 5 others wounded, February 20, 2022 (KOIN)
Candles and graffiti at the scene of a makeshift memorial in Portland’s Normandale Park one day after a shooting left one woman dead and 5 others wounded, February 20, 2022 (KOIN)
One person was killed and five were injured in a shooting that occurred Saturday evening at Normandale Park in Portland (KOIN)
One person was killed and five were injured in a shooting that occurred Saturday evening at Normandale Park in Portland (KOIN)

Forensic Architecture is set to show their investigative film, “The Murder of June Knightly” at the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art on Friday. The film includes accounts from survivors of the shooting.

Both Mayor Ted Wheeler and officials at PPB declined to comment on the exhibit. But Wheeler’s team confirmed the pledge he made last year to clear the right-of-way at the memorial site at Normandale Park.

June Knightly was killed in Portland's Normandale Park. A memorial was held on the 2nd anniversary, February 19, 2024 (KOIN)
June Knightly was killed in Portland’s Normandale Park. A memorial was held on the 2nd anniversary, February 19, 2024 (KOIN)

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In a previous statement to KOIN 6 News, Portland police confirmed “some of the initial information they had turned out to be incorrect and they fixed it when aware.” PPB added, “This is a good example of why they have to be so careful about what information is released initially about an incident.”

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