A Polk County Grand Jury found a Salem police officer was justified when he shot and wounded Efrinson Bossy, 22, on July 1.
Salem police attempted to talk to the driver of a vehicle stopped at a gas station in the 5000 block of State Highway 22 as part of a shooting investigation that evening, Salem police spokesman Lt. Treven Upkes said.
Police said the driver, who they later identified as Bossy, tried to flee and rammed a police vehicle. Salem police Detective Erick Hernandez shot at the vehicle around 7:30 p.m., leaving Bossy wounded.
Oregon State Police investigated the shooting.
The grand jury reached its decision Thursday after hearing testimony from detectives from the Oregon State Police, the involved officers from the Salem Police Department, a deputy from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and one citizen witness, according to a news release from the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.
The grand jury found Hernandez’s actions were a legal use of force in self-defense or defense of a third party, the release said.
-Rachel Alexander
