Oregon State Police Investigating Shooting, One Dead and Police Officer Injured
Salem, Oregon – The Oregon State Police (OSP) are currently conducting an investigation into a shooting incident that occurred just outside of Salem early Saturday morning. The incident left one person dead and resulted in an injured police officer.
Due to the shooting and subsequent investigation, Oregon Route 22 was closed between West Salem and Oregon Route 51 for the majority of the day. This closure caused significant congestion and had a major impact on traffic flowing into downtown Salem.
According to OSP, the incident began when an officer from the Independence Police Department conducted a routine traffic stop around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday. However, the vehicle in question decided to flee the scene.
In an attempt to disable the vehicle, strike strips were deployed by OSP, causing the vehicle to come to a halt. As the driver fled on foot, responding officers managed to locate him as he attempted to escape in another vehicle.
During the confrontation, the suspect opened fire on the police officers, striking a deputy from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. In response, officers returned fire, resulting in the arrest of the suspect. However, the identity of the arrested individual has not been released by OSP.
Tragically, another suspect was killed during the shootout, while an additional suspect sustained injuries. The identities of these individuals have also not yet been disclosed.
The injured deputy, whose identity has not been revealed, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to a statement by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
OSP continues their investigation into the incident, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. More information is expected to be released as the investigation progresses.
Anyone with information related to this shooting is urged to contact the Oregon State Police or the local authorities.