The suspect in a 2022 shooting of several protesters in Portland is expected to plead guilty, according to court records and the district attorney's office
Benjamin Smith was arrested in February 2022 after a woman was shot and killed and 4 other protestors were injured outside his apartment complex near Normandale Park.
Smith was also shot by one of the protestors.
A probable cause affidavit obtained by KATU News in 2022 revealed more of what investigators say happened at Normandale Park.
The affidavit says Smith approached the march, which was held in protest of the police killing of Amir Locke, and began yelling at the group. The demonstrators told him to leave.
According to the affidavit, Smith responded by “demanding they ‘make’ him leave” and he aggressively approached a protester, who pushed him back.
Moments later he opened fire, shooting five people, authorities said. The shooting only stopped when someone else shot Smith in the hip.
The court document said Brandy “June” Knightly was shot at close range and died at the scene.
It is unclear what charges Smith will plead guilty to on Wednesday and what his sentence will be. Smith is charged with 2nd-degree murder and 4 counts of attempted murder, along with four counts of assault.
Smith is expected to be sentenced at a later date after his plea hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday. His trial had been set for April 17th.