A man accused of shooting two Portland police officers erupted in a volatile outburst during his Feb. 4, 2026, court appearance.
According to The Oregonian, Eric F. Oelkers, 41, shouted in court that the legal process was an “unconstitutional and illegal insurrection” and proclaimed “Trump knows it. Trump’s coming” before yelling that law enforcement would see him “in hell” as he was escorted from the courtroom.
In addition to invoking President Trump, he questioned whether his public defender was artificial intelligence and attacked law enforcement and others as being in “active rebellion against the United States of America.”
During pretrial hearings, he has also made other bizarre claims and conspiracy allegations, including references to artificial intelligence and supposed attacks on particular demographic groups.
Oelkers’ charges
Oelkers’ outburst came as prosecutors formally presented charges, including attempted aggravated murder, attempted assault, and unlawful use of a weapon, stemming from an incident in Northeast Portland where officers responding to a report of a threat encountered him on a sidewalk.
Oelkers allegedly opened fire when they attempted to detain him. Paramedics transported both officers to the hospital, and both have since been released.
Instead of complying with orders to drop a weapon and place his hands on his head, Oelkers allegedly pulled a firearm from a tote bag and opened fire, striking both officers before fleeing the scene. He was arrested a week later following a multi‑agency manhunt.
Portland Police Bureau’s Special Emergency Reaction Team and other assisting agencies apprehended Oelkers on Jan. 26, 2026, in the 6400 block of Northeast 82nd Avenue in Portland without incident after nearly a week on the run. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement seized a firearm believed to be connected to the shooting.
Oelkers’ criminal record
Court filings and local reports also detail a criminal history that predates the Portland shooting. Oelkers has faced previous legal issues, including allegations of vandalism at a Black‑owned business in nearby Salem, Oregon, in 2021, for which a hate crime warrant was reportedly issued; he failed to appear in court on that case, leading to the outstanding warrant before his 2026 arrest.
As of the latest court proceedings, Oelkers remains held without bond at the Multnomah County Jail, pending further hearings in the case. Prosecutors have indicted him on a combined dozen charges tied to the shooting and related offenses. Scheduled future appearances will determine whether a trial date is set and how the state intends to proceed with what prosecutors describe as a serious violent crime against law enforcement officers. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities ask anyone with information related to the case to contact the Portland Police Bureau.
Published: Feb 6, 2026 03:56 pm