Man Accused In Normandale Park Shooting Arrested, First Court Appearance Today

PORTLAND, Ore. — 43-year-old Benjamin Smith was released from the hospital on March 23rd, some 30-plus days after the mass shooting at Normandale Park.  Police had been guarding him all this time and immediately arrested him upon discharge.

Smith, who lived in the Rose City Terrace Apartments right across the street from the park, is accused of shooting and killing 60-year-old Brandy Knightly and wounding four others before being wounded in return fire.  One of the people Smith is accused of shooting was wounded in the neck and is paralyzed.

Related | Suspect In Normandale Park Shooting Faces 9 Charges, Arrest Warrant Issued

Smith will be arraigned on Thursday afternoon in Multnomah County Court.  He’s charged with Murder in the Second Degree, four counts of Attempted Murder in the First Degree, three counts of Assault in the First Degree and Assault in the Second Degree.

A group was at the park on the night of February 19th attending a gathering for justice for Patrick Kimmons in a regular demonstration held at a variety of parks in Portland since the 27-year-old was fatally shot by police in 2018.