FBI Portland
Portland Media Office
(503) 460-8060
May 27, 2017

Statement by Special Agent in Charge Loren Cannon Regarding Transit Attack

Remarks as prepared for delivery.

Good afternoon. My name is Loren Cannon, and I am the special agent in charge of the FBI in Oregon.

The loss of life from this event is a tragedy. In response, we are all doing what we can to bring some measure of justice to those who have suffered.

The FBI shares a long and deep partnership with the Portland Police Bureau [PPB]. This relationship gives us the foundation on which we work together and share information to best protect our community. It's too early to say whether last night's violence was an act of domestic terrorism or a federal hate crime. However, in the coming days, the FBI, PPB, and the prosecutors will work together to share information, leverage resources, and make determinations about future criminal charges. PPB is the lead investigative agency, and we are honored to support their investigation in any way we can.

To those community members affected by this violence—in particular, the families of the Good Samaritans heroes and our neighbors in the Muslim and African-American communities—we stand with you. We won't allow these acts to go unanswered.

Thank you.