FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

DATE:  April 11, 2023

CONTACT:     Salem Police Communications Office | spdmedia@cityofsalem.net

Salem, Ore. — Salem Police officers responded to the call of gunfire near the area of Center ST and Hawthorne AV NE yesterday, April 10, at approximately 5:15 p.m.

Witnesses reported a young man walking along Hawthorne AV stopped to speak with the occupants of a vehicle which had pulled over near him. The young man then pulled out a gun and began to fire at the occupants in the car and then ran to a nearby apartment complex.

Patrol officers were able to locate the suspect, a male juvenile, age 16, and recovered the handgun used in the incident.

A passerby in the area at the time of the incident reported their vehicle was struck by the gunfire.

Approximately two hours later, an adult man presented to Salem Health with a non-life-threatening gun shot wound to an extremity. He reported to officers that he was an occupant in the vehicle involved in the shooting incident.

The teenager was arrested. The Salem Police Department does not identify minors involved in criminal investigations. He was lodged at the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center on the following charges:

• Assault, second degree
• Unlawful use of a weapon
• Unlawful possession of a firearm
• Reckless endangering
• Theft, first degree
• Criminal mischief, second degree

Anyone who witnessed the incident and did not have an opportunity to speak with officers is asked to call the Salem Police Tips Line at 503-588-8477.

No further information is available for release as this is an ongoing investigation.

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