Category Public Safety
Man sentenced in 2021 Salem murder-for-hire with teen shooter
A man pleaded guilty last week to helping arrange a Salem teenager to shoot two people. One of the victims, Joshua Steward, 24, was killed.
One minor arrested after knife pulled during nighttime fight at West Salem High School
A fight in the parking lot following Walker Middle School’s eighth grade promotion led to police arresting one suspect. Police did not answer questions Friday about the incident.
Man charged with Highland school attack released after state hospital snafu
A man accused of attacking workers at a Salem elementary school spent months in the state’s mental institution before being sent back to jail under a federal order. Left with few options, a judge released him to get treatment in the community.
Third boy, 15, accused of taking part in cat killing in SE Salem
Salem police said Wednesday night that a suspect who fatally shot a cat on May 10 “remains outstanding.” The agency said a third boy has been arrested in the killing.
Northwest leaders try again for more federal money for prescribed burns to prevent wildfire
Sen. Ron Wyden is seeking a third to direct hundreds of millions of federal dollars for prescribed burning to the Forest Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior.
PART 3: Boy’s dream of leaving trouble behind dies in a gunfight with Salem police
PART 3: Salem police closed in on 16-year-old Bobby Brown, wanted for two shootings downtown. He leaned out of a car, fired at officers and was killed within seconds. The teen’s dream of escaping street life in Salem was over.
PART 2: Troubled teen ensnared in gang war that spills into downtown Salem
PART 2: In spring 2022, two downtown Salem shootings left a teenager bleeding from his head and a man in critical condition. Police suspected 16-year-old Bobby Brown was the shooter in both cases, setting off a search for him.
BOBBY’S CHOICES PART 1: A teen boy’s descent into the Salem gang underworld
Bobby Brown was ready to graduate high school early. Instead, the 16-year-old boy was wanted for two daytime shootings downtown. He was killed in a shootout with Salem police officers.
Police to boost NE Salem patrols, identify services for youth at risk of violence
This summer, local law enforcement agencies plan to start focusing police patrols in northeast Salem and deciding what services they’ll use for people at risk of being on either side of deadly violence.