One day and several hours after 16-year-old Jose Vazquez-Valenzuela died in broad daylight during a shooting in Bush’s Pasture Park, faith leaders, neighbors, educators and community members gathered in remembrance, and to pray for those still hurting.
“This is not a prayer vigil, this is a prayer and action vigil,” said Rev. Dr. Kelly Wadsworth of Westminster Presbyterian Church to those gathered at the park’s southwest corner Friday evening. About 30 people gathered in a somber circle around one of the park’s tables, each holding a candle.
“The actions will stop when the violence has stopped,” Wadsworth said.
Three teenage boys were shot in the south Salem Park on Thursday. Vazquez-Valenzuela died at the scene. Damien Esquivel-Soto, 15, and a 16-year-old boy who police have not identified were transported to Salem Hospital for treatment.
The older boy was subsequently transferred to a Portland-area hospital for additional care. Salem police are not naming him until they can reach his family to notify them of his injuries, they said Friday afternoon.
A GoFundMe for Vazquez-Valenzuela’s funeral expenses had raised over $3,000 as of Friday. The fund’s goal is $25,000.
Witnesses described hearing several gunshots and seeing what appeared to be teenagers scattering in several directions around 1:45 p.m. on Thursday.
Patricia Peterson, a doctor, said she had been walking her dog in the park when the shots began. She ran over to help the wounded boy. When Vazquez-Valenzuela died, she was holding his head to help him breathe and begging him to stay with her.
The vigil on Friday evening started at 6 p.m., when the sunlight in the park began to fade. Organizers led the group in prayer, songs and remembrance.
Around 30 attended, including Mayor Chris Hoy. The shooting came less than 24 hours after city officials conducted a community meeting to unveil their strategy to deal with rising gun violence in Salem.
Pastor Greg Bolt of Salem First Presbyterian Church led a remembrance, asking those in attendance to think of healing for the two boys in the hospital. He invited participants to name aloud friends and family they’d lost to gun violence, and the surviving families of victims of gun violence. Several people shared.
“Let us remember the perpetrators. The families of those who commit violence. We acknowledge that their lives, too, are devastated and their hopes are dashed. For their sake, and for ours, we remember that pain goes in many directions from each act of violence,” he said. When he asked for names, nobody responded audibly.
Bolt said his hope for the event was to remind young people in the community that they aren’t alone, and to further the conversation and problem-solving efforts around gun violence in Salem.
A handful of teenagers showed up, but the majority of the older people in the crowd work with youth through faith organizations and education every day, he said.
“I want them to be aware of what’s going on,” Bolt said. “We’re always looking for people to come help us know what we need to become to respond. We have ideas, but we might be totally wrong.”
When the crowd snuffed out the candles and dispersed, almost nothing in the cool, dark and quiet corner of the park showed any signs that a tragedy had so recently occurred.
But between the trees, at the place where Vazquez-Valenzuela’s body had been, were three fresh tulips carefully laid.
CORRECTION: The teen who died in the shooting is Jose Vazquez-Valenzuela. His name as provided by Salem police earlier was incorrectly spelled.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-704-0355.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
