Aerial view of Bush Pasture’s Park in Salem, Oregon. Photo received via M.O. Stevens at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
As a result of Oregonian gun violence, two juveniles sustained injuries along with the passing of one unidentified individual. Taking place at Bush Pasture’s Park, the infraction began approximately at 1:45 p.m.; Salem Police Department arrived soon after.
Extensive information about both juveniles has not come out, only their admittance to Salem Hospital surfacing itself to the public.
As for the impact on the surrounding areas, South Salem High School and McKinley Elementary School chose to enter a campus lockdown. While the lockdown status of McKinley was unknown, South started at a level one lockdown and only minutes later, progressed to a level three. Both schools remained in lockdown until their regular dismissal time, 2:20 p.m. for McKinley and 3:20 p.m. for South. Additionally, Salem Hospital elected to undergo lockdown procedures until 4:00 p.m.
During the campus lock down, South Principal Tara Romine sent out updates and emails to students, parents and guardians with live information.
I want to be clear: at no time was there an active shooter on our school campus,
Romine said in a March 7, 2024 email
Moreover, Romine worked with local law enforcement and district security to actively protect her 2,204 students.
I want to begin this message by emphasizing that students and staff remained safe inside our building throughout this incident,
Romine said in a March 7, 2024 email.
Although the crime is recent, it has already found de-escalation as Bush Pasture’s Park and surrounding streets like Leffelle Street are available once again for civilian usage.
Update: March 12, 2024, 12:00 a.m.
In the following days after the March 7, 2024, shooting at Bush Pasture’s Park, the SPD identified the credentials of all youths in this infraction. Named as the perpetrator, Nathaniel Shauntae McCrae Jr. turned himself into the SPD on Friday, March 8, 2024, the day following the shooting.
After surrendering on Friday, McCrae received one count of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. While McCrae is only 16, case prosecutors wish to file a claim that allows them to charge him as an adult.
Upon further inspection from the SPD, the deceased individual is 16-year-old Jose Vasquez-Valenzuela, a sophomore who attended South.
Status updates regarding the two injured juveniles have yet to surface, and their identities are still unknown.
