A Salem man pointed a pistol at several people while walking near Four Corners in east Salem last week, shot at a vehicle and then aimed at responding police officers. They shot and killed him, the Keizer Police Department said in a news release Monday night.
The police agency identified the man as 32-year-old Justin Jordan.
The announcement came three days after the Marion County Sheriff’s Office reported that a man had died on Friday, Nov. 24, in an “officer-involved shooting” in the area of Southeast Arabian Avenue and Southeast Sorrel Court. That statement provided few details and did not specify whether the man was killed by police gunfire.
Witnesses reported just before 11 a.m. Friday, that a man was thrashing and throwing items around in the neighborhood while holding two pistols, according to the Keizer police statement.
A caller reported they heard a gunshot before seeing the man holding a gun to his own head while kneeling on the ground. They said the man was last seen walking on Arabian Avenue, where more gunshots were heard.
Others called to report the man had pointed a gun at them, including one who said the man had fired at her vehicle. All callers safely left the area and none were injured.
Officers from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Salem Police Department and Oregon State Police responded, found Jordan on Arabian Avenue and started negotiations for his surrender.
“After a brief dialogue, the man pointed one of his two handguns at law enforcement personnel, who then fired their weapons, hitting the male. Law enforcement personnel immediately provided life-saving measures, but due to the extent of his injuries, the male was pronounced deceased on scene,” the Keizer statement said.
Officers found two 9mm pistols by his side.
The Keizer agency identified three police officers involved and their years of service: Marion County Sheriff’s deputy Caleb Mott, six years; Salem police officer John Parmer, six years; and state police trooper Andrew Tuttle, four years.
The three officers were placed on administrative leave under police shooting protocols. Marion County requires that “involved officers” – which under state law includes both officers that fire shots or witness another do so – be placed on paid administrative leave during investigations.
Keizer police said they are continuing to investigate the shooting. The county requires that a police agency not involved in a fatal police shooting conduct the investigation.
The Keizer agency said it would not release any additional information “to preserve a grand jury’s objective review of the incident pursuant to standard procedure.”
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UPDATE: Suspect dead after police shooting near Four Corners
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
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Ardeshir Tabrizian has covered criminal justice and housing for Salem Reporter since September 2021. As an Oregon native, his award-winning watchdog journalism has traversed the state. He has done reporting for The Oregonian, Eugene Weekly and Malheur Enterprise.
