PUBLIC SAFETY

Two arrested in March northeast Salem drive-by shooting

Marion County Sheriff’s Department have arrested two people in connection with the fatal March shooting of 20-year-old Eduardo Garcia in northeast Salem. 

Following months of investigation, detectives with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested John Juarez-Juarez, 18, on Oct. 4 and Yahir Cruz-Rosales, 18, on Oct. 12 for alleged involvement, according to a press release. Both are from Salem.

Garcia was killed in a drive-by shooting March 9 on Northeast Hayesville Drive near Northeast Reimann Street.

The probable cause affidavit saysGarcia’s vehicle was seen driving on Lancaster Drive, when another vehicle pulled into a parking lot nearby. Juarez-Juarez was later identified as the driver, with someone in the back seat. As Garcia’s vehicle began to move, Juarez-Juarez was seen following him for about three miles. Juarez-Juarez was then seen pulling into the oncoming traffic lane, positioning the vehicles side-by-side and the passenger in the back seat fired shots out the window, killing Garcia.  

Juarez-Juarez was arraigned in Marion County Court on Oct. 5 following his arrest and ordered to be held without bail, court records show.

A Marion County grand jury on Oct. 11 indicted Juarez-Juarez on charges of murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the first degree, and unlawful use of a weapon. The same grand jury indicted Cruz-Rosales on charges of murder in the second degree with a firearm, attempted murder in the first degree with a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon.

Investigators arrested Cruz-Rosales Wednesday morning on Northeast Front Street Northeast in Salem. 

He was arraigned in Marion County Court Thursday and ordered to be held without bail.

Both have hearings scheduled for Oct. 18.

Contact reporter Jordyn Brown at [email protected].

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Jordyn Brown is an Oregon journalist who formerly worked for the Eugene Register-Guard.