Uncategorized

Incident outside of downtown leaves one dead and officer injured

There was a shooting at the intersection of Court and 17th Thursday morning. (Courtesy/Rob Owen)

Update 11/2 8:52 a.m.: The person shot and killed on Oct. 29 was identified as Rodolfo “Rudy” Martinez-Cortez, 30, of Salem.

Update 2:52 p.m.: The officer involved in Thursday’s shooting was Andrew Parsons, who joined the department in February. He previously worked as a deputy in the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office since 2016.

Original story below

Salem police said a person was shot and killed Thursday morning after a pursuit from an officer officer following a car crash.

Around 9:50 a.m. a Salem patrol officer was conducting a “traffic investigation” when the driver crashed at Northeast 17th and Court, according to a police department press release. The release didn’t say what caused the crash.

An officer chased the driver into a nearby backyard on Court Street, the release said.

Police said “shortly after confronting the driver in the backyard, shots were fired.”

The person who fled was shot and killed, but the release didn’t specify who shot them. Salem police spokesman Lt. Treven Upkes said he couldn’t speak to those details.

According to police, “the officer was struck in the ankle” by the person. Police did not offer further details.

The officer was treated by medical staff and released. That officer has been placed on administrative leave and the Oregon State Police have taken over the investigation.

The name of the person who was killed won’t be released until their relatives are notified, police said.

This story will be updated. 

SUPPORT ESSENTIAL REPORTING FOR SALEM – A subscription starts at $5 a month for around-the-clock access to stories and email alerts sent directly to you. Your support matters. Go HERE.

Have a tip? Contact reporter Saphara Harrell at 503-549-6250, [email protected] or @daisysaphara.