Toby Otto, reporter, contributed to this report.
Late Friday afternoon, a Salem Police officer shot and killed a man in South Salem.
A press release from the Oregon State Police [OSP] states that Salem Police Department [SPD] and Salem Fire Department responded to reports of a suicidal man who had injured himself. They responded a little after 5 p.m.
Members of the fire department arrived on the scene first. The statement from OSP says that the man “threatened [the fire fighters] with a firearm.” Neighbors, at the scene, shared a similar story saying that the responding firefighters were confronted.
Police arrived at the scene soon after. The statement states that “the man, still armed, confronted them,” at which point an officer fired at and hit the man. Medical aid was rendered, but the man died at the scene.
No one else was injured. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, pending the investigation.
The investigation is being conducted by OSP, due to protocols for the use of deadly physical force. After the shooting, there were many police vehicles at the scene, both unmarked and marked, belonging to OSP and SPD. Along with numerous officers.
Floodlights had been set up to illuminate the scene as the sun set. Officers remained at the scene late into Friday night.
This is a breaking story. More information may be added as it becomes available.
