FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: October 31, 2023
CONTACT: Salem Police Communications Office | spdmedia@cityofsalem.net
Update 11/01/2023 | 1:45 p.m.
The Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit continues their investigation into the Tuesday morning shooting incident in south Salem.
The victim, a 31-year-old woman, was critically injured in the incident and remains hospitalized.
The deceased suspect is identified as Phillip Wayne Johnson, age 37. Johnson and the victim were known to one another from a past relationship.
After fleeing the shooting, Johnson was located by a Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy approximately one-half hour later driving eastbound on Highway 22E. His vehicle was intentionally stopped using a tire deflation device, and deputies found Johnson deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A portion of Highway 22E outside the city of Detroit was closed for approximately seven hours for the investigation of that scene.
No other information is available for release on this active investigation.
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Originally published 10/31/2023 | 3:15 p.m.
Salem, Ore. — At approximately 10:40 a.m. today, Salem Police officers responded to the 1300 block of Vista AV SE on the call of a man driving his truck into a residence, then shooting a woman inside the home. The suspect fled the scene. The woman was transported to Salem Health with critical injuries.
Officers learned of a possible threat to the victim’s children who attend Morningside Elementary School near the residence. Out of an abundance of caution, security measures at the school were implemented, including putting the school on lockdown status and deploying officers to the campus to ensure the safety of students and staff.
A description of the suspect and vehicle was dispatched to area law enforcement agencies. At approximately 11:15 a.m., the suspect was located traveling eastbound on Highway 22E by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office who were able to get the vehicle stopped just outside the city limits of Detroit.
Deputies approached the vehicle and learned the suspect was deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Both scenes, in Salem and on Highway 22E, are under active investigation, and no further details, including information about the victim or the decedent, are being released at this time.
Highway 22E outside the city of Detroit remains closed in both directions. Please follow Oregon State Police media channels for updates on the closure.
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