The Oregonian has a long eyewitness account of the attack in Portland. Rachel Macy stayed by Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche’s side till he was taken away on a stretcher, he died 20 minutes later:
Macy remained on the train until police and emergency medics arrived. Medical personnel tried to work on Best but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Medics put Namkai-Meche on a stretcher. Macy stayed by his side. Before he was carried away, he had a last message, she said: "Tell everyone on this train I love them. ''
[...]
Macy, a single mother of five children who rides the MAX to and from her community college courses at least three times a week, said she just did "what had to be done.''
"I just kept thinking this is someone's child,'' she said.