A woman paralysed during a peaceful protest against the deaths of two Black men shot by police has passed away after choosing to be taken off life support.
Known only as ‘Deg’, she was shot in the neck while demonstrating at Normandale Park in Portland, Oregon, on 19 February 2022. The injury left her paralysed from the neck down. Once an enthusiastic hiker, the 32-year-old depended on caregivers for survival.
Deg died on 1 July after asking doctors and loved ones to disconnect her ventilator. Her mother told The Oregonian, “She had lost so much control. This was her decision. I couldn’t argue with her. But we miss her desperately.”
Deg had joined the protest following the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Amir Locke by SWAT officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 2 February 2022. The police conducted a ‘no-knock warrant’, entering the home without prior notice. The demonstration also honoured 27-year-old Patrick Kimmons, who was killed by Portland police during a 2018 altercation.
The protest was disrupted by Benjamin Smith, who fired shots at the crowd, killing 60-year-old June Knightly and injuring four others, including Deg. One protester returned fire, hitting Smith near his hip.
Court documents revealed Smith harboured hostility towards Antifa and Black Lives Matter, and was a Nazi sympathiser. He was also linked to Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot and killed two men and injured another during a protest on 25 August 2020. Rittenhouse was found not guilty of all charges on 19 November 2021.
In March 2023, Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and several attempted murder charges, resulting in a life sentence with eligibility for parole after 55 years.
In April last year, Deg shared in a victim impact statement how the incident had changed her life, saying, “I really miss the sound of my laugh. My days are entirely driven by my immediate medical needs.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who was Deg and what happened to her?
Deg was a 32-year-old protester paralyzed by a gunshot in 2022; she died after choosing to be taken off life support.
Why was Deg paralyzed?
Deg was paralyzed after being shot in the neck during a protest in Portland, Oregon, on February 19, 2022.
What were the protests that Deg attended about?
The protests were in response to the police shootings of Amir Locke in 2022 and Patrick Kimmons in 2018.
Who was responsible for the shooting at the protest?
Benjamin Smith, who expressed hostility towards Antifa and Black Lives Matter, was responsible for the shooting.
What was the outcome of Benjamin Smith’s trial?
Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and numerous other charges in March 2023, receiving a life sentence with parole eligibility after 55 years.