OSP identifies man shot, killed by Salem police at apartments near Keizer border
The Oregon State Police have identified the man shot and killed by Salem police at an apartment complex near the border with Keizer as 42-year-old Shawn L. Baker.
The state agency also identified the Salem Police Department officers involved in the deadly confrontation as Chad Galusha and John Diaz, though its news release Thursday afternoon did not specify who fired shots.
State police said the Salem officers were pursuing “a wanted suspect,” who they identified as Baker, just before the shooting. Authorities have not explained what Baker was accused of.
Court records indicated he failed to appear for a hearing on Nov. 4 in Marion County Circuit Court. In that case, he and another man were charged five months earlier with second-degree burglary at what appeared to be the restroom building at Barrick Field, used by North Salem High School’s baseball team.
Around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the Salem officers were pursuing Baker on foot when he fled into the Laurel Gate Court Apartments on North River Road and toward a residential unit, according to state police.
Police said Baker was armed with a handgun but didn’t mention whether he brandished it.
“Two officers confronted Baker and shots were fired striking Baker,” according to the statement.
Officers from the Salem Police Department and Keizer Police Department immediately responded to the shooting. Police and medics tried to perform life-saving measures, but Baker died at the scene.
Galusha has been with the Salem police for 16 years and Diaz for 23 years. No officers were injured.
Both officers were put on administrative leave in a routine followed after police shootings. 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.
The Marion County Law Enforcement Officer Deadly Use of Force Plan requires that a police agency not involved in a fatal police shooting has to conduct the investigation.
State police are the primary agency conducting use of a deadly force investigation and coordinating with the Marion County District Attorney’s Office. Keizer police and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office are also helping with the investigation.
The state agency said any additional information about the shooting will come from the district attorney’s office after the investigation concludes.
Court records listed Baker’s home address as adjacent to the location where he was killed.
Baker has criminal convictions dating back to 2002, including for aggravated theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle and fleeing police in a vehicle.
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Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
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Ardeshir Tabrizian has covered the justice system and public safety 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.
