Ardeshir Tabrizian
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.
Man sentenced to 20 years for killing 2 in 2021 Salem cantina shooting
Prosecutors say Nivardo Ramirez-Monge shot Jose Arrevalo following an altercation in the bathroom at the Capital Cantina in northeast Salem. An uninvolved bystander, Erlin Rivas-Lopez, was also shot and killed.
Mayor plans to convene leaders to address Salem’s gun violence
At a joint session Monday with the Salem City Council, Marion County Board of Commissioners and Salem-Keizer School District, Marion County Sheriff Nick Hunter said the same surge in shootings seen in Salem is likely happening in unincorporated areas east of the city.
Teen, 15, found dead in car was shot, Salem police say
Salem police are investigating a homicide after finding the body of a 15-year-old boy in a parked car on Northeast Evergreen Avenue Nov. 6. They declined to identify the victim.
Cutting Salem gun violence will take shift in police tactics, researchers say
Local officials are scheduled to get a public briefing Monday on a new report outlining escalating gun violence in Salem. Researchers recommended focused community intervention on those most at risk to be shooters or gunshot victims.
UPDATE: State police car spins, crashes after being rammed by driver on I-5
An Oregon State Police lieutenant tried to pull over a driver on Interstate 5 Friday morning who then rammed the patrol car from behind and fled before being arrested, the agency announced. The lieutenant suffered minor injuries.
Marion County opens new $16.5 million Health and Human Services building
Marion County officials say a newly built Health and Human Services building is a one-time investment that could help save hundreds of thousands in annual costs for space currently leased in offices scattered throughout Salem.
Police arrest student, accused of keeping gun in locker at McKay
McKay High School Principal Antonio Mercado said in a statement Wednesday that a student had been arrested after police found a gun in their locker. “There was no indicated threat against the school or any individuals and the school did not go into a lockdown,” he wrote.
Salem shootings doubled, teen violence tripled in recent years, report finds
At least half of Salem shootings over five years involved gang members as victims, suspects or both, according to a newly released report.
Meanwhile, the number of teens arrested for serious assaults has tripled since 2020.
Fired Salem police sergeant fighting loss of license resigns from new Aumsville job
Jeffrey Keniston resigned on Oct. 5 from the Aumsville Police Department after state officials found he used his authority to gain a sexual relationship with a domestic violence victim while employed by Salem. He is still challenging the revocation of his police license.
UPDATE: Man who died by suicide in Salem police station lobby had history of depression
Salem police say they could not establish why a man fatally shot himself in the agency’s lobby on Saturday. Investigators found no connection between the man and the police department, or the fact that he died by suicide on Veterans Day