Salem man gets 64 years for shootout with police that left friend dead
A Salem man was sentenced on Thursday to nearly 64 years in prison for attempting to murder a Polk County sheriff’s deputy in a shootout and for the death of his getaway driver, who a deputy fatally shot.
After a three-day bench trial, Polk County Circuit Court Judge Monte Campbell found Jose M. Corral-Zavala, 22, guilty on June 18 of attempted aggravated murder, second-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault, nine counts of unlawful use of a weapon, assaulting a public safety officer, second-degree criminal mischief, attempting to elude a police officer and 10 counts of reckless endangering.
Corral-Zavala started a gunfight with officers on Sept. 30, 2023 on a West Salem highway, and fled in a minivan that had stopped nearby. A deputy shot and killed the driver of the van, 18-year-old Isaac I. Oceguedo of Carlton.
Corral-Zavala then took over the van before driving into a nearby house, causing over $190,000 of damage, according to a news release Thursday from the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.
A sentencing memorandum by Chief Deputy District Attorney Matthew Wilson provided an account of the shootout.
Around 1:30 a.m. that morning, police tried to pull over Corral-Zavala for running a stop sign in Independence. He then led officers on a vehicle chase, driving at speeds up to 100 miles per hour.
He ran over spike strips placed by Polk County sheriff’s deputies and turned onto Highway 22 toward West Salem, where he ditched his vehicle just east of Northwest Doaks Ferry Road.
He grabbed a Glock pistol with a drum-style magazine and another extended magazine, then ran and hid from police in dense brush on the hillside, overlooking the road.
Corral-Zavala then called a friend in Independence, Oceguedo, to come pick him up.
Oceguedo showed up in a minivan. He came armed with a Glock pistol and extra ammo, including for Corral-Zavala’s gun.
“Once he saw his ride arrive, Corral-Zavala began making his way down to the road, determined to get to the waiting get-away vehicle and avoid being taken into custody by any means necessary. In this case, it meant firing at the group of Salem police officers and Polk County sheriff’s deputies standing just a few hundred feet away,” according to the news release.
When officers found Corral-Zavala, he “acted like he was going to give up and then effectuated his ambush,” Wilson said in his memorandum.
Corral-Zavala shot Polk County deputy Michael Smith, who was standing around 20 feet away, in his ankle. Other shots hit a police car where other deputies were taking cover.
Smith fired back.
Ocegueda drove into the middle of the gunfight. As Corral Zavala ran across the highway to the van, he continued to shoot at Smith and the other officers.
Oceguedo was shot in the crossfire but managed to pick up Corral-Zavala and drive off before passing out and dying.
Corral-Zavala then steered the van from the passenger side a short distance. He crashed into and “pretty much destroyed” a house, according to the memorandum. He “tried to flee on foot, but was too injured to do so.”
The homeowners were sleeping in the house at the time but were not injured.
A girl seated behind the driver exited the vehicle with injuries from the crash and a bullet wound to her left leg. She and Smith were taken to Salem Hospital, according to an Oregon State Police affidavit.
A three-hour stand-off ensued with Corral-Zavala before he was arrested.
Corral-Zavala was previously convicted in April 2022 in Marion County Circuit Court of attempting to elude a police officer, reckless driving and unlawful possession of a firearm.
He was also previously adjudicated as a juvenile in 2017 for third-degree assault and in 2019 for unlawful use of a weapon and first-degree theft.
Oceguedo’s estate in January 2024 sued Smith and Polk County Sheriff Mark Garton in Portland U.S. District Court, seeking up to $28.5 million in damages.
The lawsuit alleges that Ocegueda’s death was a result of negligence by Polk County, including failing to properly train Smith in use of deadly force or instruct him “that he is only justified in shooting the person who is actually a threat.”
The lawsuit was still pending as of Thursday.
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Salem man charged with attempted aggravated murder following shootout with police
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Police identify citizen killed, deputy injured in Polk County shootout Saturday
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.
