A shooting outside a Jewish preschool in Southwest Portland on Wednesday has reignited concerns over the safety of Jewish institutions across the country. The incident involved an armed security guard at The Gan – Portland Jewish Preschool, who shot a man after an alleged confrontation in the adjacent Fanno Medical Clinic parking lot.
Portland police responded to the scene on the 6600 block of Southwest Capitol Highway and found a man with gunshot wounds. He remains in intensive care following surgery. The security guard, employed by the preschool, acted in self-defense after being reportedly assaulted and threatened, according to a statement from the school.
The Gan emphasized that all children and staff were safely secured inside the building during the incident. “The individual presented a direct threat to the guard,” the statement said. “In response, the guard was forced to take protective action.”
The preschool noted the guard was hired due to the rise in threats against Jewish communities. “Jews are only 2% of the U.S. population, yet are subject to approximately 65% of religious bias crimes,” the school stated. It also reaffirmed its commitment to safety through collaboration with security organizations like the Secure Community Network and the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland.
Authorities have not determined whether the suspect was armed or what his intentions were. Portland Police are continuing their investigation and have not ruled out possible charges. Sgt. Kevin Allen said the department is working to interview witnesses and the security guard involved.
The medical director of the nearby clinic, Dr. Gregg Coodley, provided emergency aid to the wounded man, applying pressure to his wound until paramedics arrived. “He had a big bullet hole in what we call the left upper quadrant,” Coodley reported.
While police said there’s no evidence that the preschool was specifically targeted or that antisemitism motivated the event, the incident has underscored the urgent need for security at Jewish institutions. No children witnessed the shooting, and parents were quickly notified and able to retrieve their children in an orderly manner.
The Gan closed its statement by reaffirming its commitment to safety and offering a prayer for peace: “We pray for the day when the world will realize the vision of the prophets: ‘Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.’”
