Terrell Kyreem Johnson

Information
Officer-involved shooting summary

PPB Case #: 17-143978

Date: May 10, 2017

Subject: Terrell Kyreem Johnson, 24

Involved Officer: Officer Samson Ajir

On May 10, 2017, at 7:03 p.m., a caller to 9-1-1 reported that a male in his 20s was threatening people on the TriMet Flavel Street Transit Station.  Officer Jacob Howell of the West Linn Police Department, assigned to the Transit Police Division, was the first to arrive on the scene and encountered 24-year-old Terrell Kyreem Johnson.

Officer Howell began speaking with Johnson, who was non-compliant and would not sit down. Officer Samson Ajir, an eight-year veteran of the Portland Police Bureau who was assigned to the Transit Division, and his partner and brother, Clackamas County Deputy AJ Ajir, arrived on the scene. Johnson ran from the officers -- first westbound on Flavel then back eastbound before running northbound on the MAX bridge over Johnson Creek. 

Officer Ajir was in close proximity to Johnson during the foot chase. Johnson reversed course and turned toward Officer Ajir and advanced toward him while displaying a utility knife, prompting Officer Ajir to unholster his handgun and fire multiple times, striking Johnson. After Johnson was down on the ground, additional officers arrived and approached Johnson with a shield for officer-safety, then began rendering immediate medical aid until paramedics arrived. Paramedics determined that Johnson was deceased. A utility knife was recovered from the scene. 
 
At the time of his death, Johnson did not have a fixed address and a family member had an active restraining order/protective order against him.  

The Oregon State Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy and determined that Johnson died of multiple gunshot wounds.  

On Thursday June 22, 2017, a Multnomah County Grand Jury determined that the officer was justified in the use of deadly force in the shooting. The grand jury determined that the use of deadly force against Johnson was a lawful exercise of self-defense under Oregon law. 

As part of the use of force review process, the Bureau conducts an internal review of the entire incident and the case will go before the Police Review Board (PRB), which is composed of community members, Bureau members and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.

The Portland Police Bureau's directive outlining the procedures followed after an officer-involved shooting may be found in Directive 1010.10.