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News Releases
One deceased and two injured in shooting incident -- UPDATE 3 - 03/10/24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

DATE: March 10, 2024

 

One deceased and two injured in shooting incident

Victim identification update

Update 3/10/2024 | 12:15 p.m.

The final update in this case is the release of the name of the previously unidentified shooting victim. 

The second surviving victim is Roberto Muñoz-Soto, age 16, of Salem. 

With the suspect arrested and in custody of the Marion County Juvenile Department, all further media inquiries into the investigation must go through the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.

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Suspect in custody

Update 3/9/2024 | 10:15 a.m.

The suspect in the case has been arrested.

Late Friday evening, March 8, in the company of a parent, Nathaniel Shauntae McCrae Jr. turned himself in at the Salem Police Station and was taken into custody without incident.

The 16-year-old McCrae was transported to the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center and lodged on the following charges:

  • Murder in the second degree
  • Attempted murder in the second degree, two counts
  • Assault in the first degree, two counts
  • Unlawful use of a weapon

With the suspect in custody, all further inquiries concerning this investigation should be directed to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.

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Update 3/8/2024 | 12:15 p.m.

The Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit is leading the investigation of the shooting death of a Salem teenager on Thursday afternoon in Bush’s Pasture Park.

The initial investigation revealed two large groups of juveniles were at the park when the gunfire erupted. Officers arrived at the scene quickly and assisted with helping the injured; however, 16-year-old Jose Vazquez-Valenzuela died at the scene. 

Two other teenagers were also struck by bullets. Damian Esquivel-Soto, age 15, and another boy, age 16, were transported to Salem Health for medical treatment. The older teen was subsequently transferred to a Portland-area hospital for further care.

The name of the 16-year-old victim who survived is not being released at this time. “We have been unable to reach the family to notify them. Until we can do so, we will be withholding his name,” said public information officer Angela Hedrick.

Both surviving victims remain hospitalized.

The Upper Leffelle portion of the park was closed for more than six hours for investigation of the crime scene. 

No arrests have been made in the case. Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack noted, “Right now, we are focused solely upon solving this crime, holding the perpetrator(s) accountable, and bringing justice to these victims and their families.

We will, though, have to continue our work with the community to develop an effective intervention and prevention strategy for this intolerable level of violence,” added Womack.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident and has not spoken with Salem Police detectives is asked to call the Salem Police Tips Line at 503-588-8477 and mention case number 24-19870.

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Originally published 3/7/2024 | 1551

 

Salem, Ore. — Salem Police officers are actively working a shooting incident near Bush’s Pasture Park this afternoon.

At approximately 1:45 p.m., officers were called to the area of High and Leffelle STS SE on the report of a shooting incident. Officers located three male victims with gunshot wounds. One victim was found deceased. The remaining two victims, who are juveniles, were transported to Salem Health for medical treatment.

The age of the deceased victim is not yet confirmed. The medical condition of the two surviving victims is unknown.

The portion of the park known as Upper Leffelle is remains closed, and neighbors should avoid the area while officers search for a suspect and the scene is investigated.

Additional information will be published when it becomes available.

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Images from the swearing-in ceremony of Deputy Chief Debra Aguilar
Images from the swearing-in ceremony of Deputy Chief Debra Aguilar
Salem Police promotes veteran officer to deputy chief post (Photo) - 03/08/24

Salem, Ore. — Today, Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack presided over a special ceremony to promote Lieutenant Debra Aguilar to the rank of deputy chief.

Aguilar started with the agency in December 2000 and has served in various assignments since then. While in the Field Operations Division, she worked as a school resource officer at West Salem High School. In 2011, she promoted to the rank of sergeant. Just two years later in 2013, she was again promoted, receiving the rank of lieutenant. In the decade-plus that followed, Aguilar was assigned to several specialty disciplines, such as threat assessment, crisis negotiations, and defensive tactics. She also assisted in several key roles for the department, acting as liaison to the Human Rights Commission and the local non-profit Salem for Refugees. 

The new deputy chief is a graduate of Western Oregon University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish. In 2017, Aguilar also attended the prestigious FBI National Academy, a ten-week program that brings together elite law enforcement officers for focused training in a variety of disciplines. Aguilar is also second-generation law enforcement. She followed the career path of her father, a now-retired sergeant with Oregon State Police. 

Aguilar is also the second woman in department history to hold the rank of deputy chief. During the ceremony Chief Womack underscored his trust and confidence in her, and also observed Aguilar “earned her new rank, having served our community for 24 years and passed a rigorous, competitive deputy chief testing process to get here today. And she happens to be a woman in a profession still dominated by men. That is worth noting since coincidentally, she is being promoted in March which is National Women’s History Month.” 

In her assignment as a new division commander, Aguilar will lead the Investigations Division.

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Passenger dies in traffic collision in South Salem (with correction) - 02/24/24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: February 24, 2024

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

 

Passenger dies in traffic collision in South Salem (Correction)

Published 02/24/2024 | 7:45 p.m

Correction:  This is actually the fourth traffic fatality of 2024 not the third as originally stated.

 

 

Published 02/24/2024 | 6:45 p.m.

Salem, Ore. — Just before 5:30 p.m. on February 23, emergency responders were called to the intersection of 12th St SE and Oakhill Av SE on a call of a three-vehicle motor vehicle collision.

The preliminary investigation indicated a black Audi A6 was south bound on 12th St SE. A black BMW passenger vehicle, driven by Martin Lorin, proceeded west bound onto 12th St SE from Oakhill Av SE and was struck by the Audi.

The impact resulted in the BMW colliding with a Subaru that had been stopped on the west side of the intersection. A total of seven people were involved in the crash, with four of those person’s ultimately being transported to Salem Hospital.

One of those transported was Lynda Bush, age 81, who had been a passenger in the BMW at the time of the crash. The seriousness of Lynda’s injuries was not immediately known and sometime after arriving at Salem Hospital, Lynda succumbed to those injuries and was pronounced deceased.

The driver of the BMW was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device. The Traffic Team will handle any follow up investigation.

This is the third traffic fatality of 2024.

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SMP24-6769 Photo of the victim and his vehicle.
SMP24-6769 Photo of the victim and his vehicle.
Homicide investigation develops overnight -- UPDATE (Photo) - 02/22/24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

DATE: February 22, 2024 

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

Suspect Arrested in Homicide 

Salem, Ore. — On February 22, 2024, Ventura-Arellano, Ismael age 21 was Arraigned and charged with Murder II and Felon in Possession of a Firearm in the murder of Ramos-Torres, Jesus age 23. Ventura is being held at Marion County Jail. The Salem Police Department and the Violent Crime Unit would like to thank the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) for their assistance with this investigation. 

All further inquiries will be handled by the Marion County District Attorney's Office.  

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DATE: January 26, 2024

Homicide investigation develops overnight

Update 01/26/2024 | 3:35 p.m.

The homicide victim is identified as Jesus Ramos-Torres, age 23, of Salem. Ramos-Torres was found deceased from a gunshot wound in the early morning hours of January 25. 

Violent Crime Unit detectives investigating the incident have released a photo of the victim and his vehicle with the hope someone will come forward with information helpful to the investigation. 

Investigators would like to speak with anyone who may have interacted with Ramos-Torres or know of his whereabouts Wednesday evening, January 24, or before he died at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Salem Police Tips Line at 503-588-8477. 

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Media: See attached image file.

 

Salem, Ore. — Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred early this morning.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. today, a deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, responding to a report of gunfire in the 1100 block of Cordon RD SE, came upon a vehicle blocking the roadway. The male driver of the vehicle was found deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.

Salem Police responded to the scene and assumed the investigation which closed Cordon RD between Macleay and Caplinger RDS SE for approximately six hours.

No immediate arrests have been made. The incident is an active investigation, and no additional information is being released, including that of the 23-year-old victim.

Detectives ask anyone with information about this incident to call the Salem Police Tips Line at 503-588-8477 and refer to case number SMP24-6769.

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