Body camera footage released Thursday by the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) shows the intense confrontation when three police officers fired a total of 30 rounds at a suspect outside a home in Portland’s Woodlawn neighborhood on September 26.
The officers were attempting to arrest 24-year-old Jesse James West, who was wanted in connection with a series of armed robberies.
At approximately 6:21 p.m. on the day of the incident, detectives from PPB’s Major Crimes Unit, along with officers from the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT), arrived at a residence in the 7000 block of NE 17th Avenue.
Patriotic beachwear for freedom lovers! Shop now and get 10% off with code RB10. Vet & LEO-founded.
Police had identified West as a suspect in multiple robberies, including one that had occurred earlier that day.
According to law enforcement, West was believed to be armed with an AR-style rifle and had access to at least one other firearm.
The bodycam footage shows officers in tactical gear surrounding the area as they prepare to confront West, who appeared to be trying to leave the scene in a silver sedan.
Officers used their vehicles to block West’s car, trapping him in the driveway. Within moments, officers can be heard shouting for West to put his hands up and warning him of a nearby police K-9.
As tensions escalated, an officer used a less-lethal launcher to break the rear window of West’s vehicle. Immediately after, police say West fired six rounds at the officers.
In response, Officer Joshua Faris fired 11 rounds, Officer Bret Emmons fired five rounds, and Officer Matt Wells discharged 14 rounds, as shown in the video.
West can be seen crouching down inside the vehicle during the barrage of gunfire.
West was wounded in the shootout and was subsequently taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Police have not provided details on the severity of his injuries, but West remained in police custody during his hospital stay.
He was officially booked into jail on October 7, following his discharge from the hospital.
All three officers involved—Faris, Emmons, and Wells—are members of the SERT unit and have been placed on administrative leave while the police bureau conducts an internal investigation into the incident, as per standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.
The September 26 shooting marks the fifth time Portland police have used deadly force in 2024.
Another officer-involved shooting occurred just a week later on October 4, when police fatally shot a man at an apartment complex in Southeast Portland.
Out of the six officer-involved shootings in Portland this year, three have resulted in fatalities.
The bureau’s ongoing investigation into the use of force will determine whether the actions of the officers were justified under the circumstances.
.
