Category Public Safety

UPDATED: 16-year-old boy turns himself in, charged with fatal shooting at Bush’s Pasture Park
Nathaniel S. McCrae Jr., 16, faces charges including murder and attempted murder for his role in a shooting that killed one boy and injured two others on Thursday at Bush’s Pasture Park.

South Salem High cancels after-school events following anxiety over online threats
School district officials said a small number of vague threats against schools circulated rapidly online, prompting panic the day after a shooting near South Salem High School.

Police identify 16-year-old boy killed in Bush’s Pasture Park shooting
Jose Vazquez-Valenzuela, 16, was pronounced dead after police responded to a shooting at Bush’s Pasture Park Thursday. Damien Esquivel-Soto, 15, and a 16-year-old boy who police have not identified also suffered gunshot wounds and were hospitalized.

“The kid died in my lap”: witnesses describe tragedy, mayhem as 3 shot in Bush’s Pasture Park
Neighbors were walking their dogs at Bush’s Pasture Park Thursday afternoon when they heard gunfire and screams. Witnesses who rushed to help said a young man died as they were checking his pulse.

UPDATE: One dead, 2 boys injured in shooting at Bush’s Pasture Park
BREAKING NEWS: Salem police responded to Bush's Pasture Park on Thursday afternoon after reports of a shooting. Police closed Southeast Leffelle Street at High Street. South Salem HIgh School was put in lockdown but authorities say all students and staff are safe.

Oregon’s legislative session ending without much-needed solutions to wildfire funding issues
Three proposals to boost wildfire funding this session have died, though one bill, to protect wildfire survivor settlements, is on its way to Gov. Kotek

Feds ensnare Salem woman in drug ring trafficking “enormous” amounts of meth
Federal authorities seized over 200 pounds of methamphetamine from a drug trafficking operation with ties to Mexico. The drugs were smuggled from southern California into Salem and Portland.

Mayor, police chief to hold community meeting Wednesday on reducing gun violence
City leaders are hosting a “community conversation” kicking off an effort to prevent shootings by working with community organizations. The event will be held Wednesday evening at the East Salem Community Center.

Salem police sergeant’s DUI trial set for August
Sgt. Dustin Wann on Friday sought and was given a judge’s approval to travel out of state while awaiting trial for a drunk driving charge. He has pleaded not guilty, according to court records.

