1 injured in shooting at Salem mall
A shooting at Salem Center Mall spun downtown Salem into chaos for several hours Friday afternoon.
Police said one juvenile was found shot near High and Chemeketa streets and was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The shooter had not been arrested as of 4:30 p.m. Friday. Police did not release any information about what led to the shooting or who may have been involved.
“Streets in downtown are now opening,” police said in a news release. “However, motorists and downtown visitors should expect a police presence in the area of the Salem Center Mall as the investigation continues.”
‘He shot four or five times’
Police were called to the mall at about 2:15 p.m. for reports of shots being fired. Witnesses reported seeing two groups of teens verbally fighting before a male pulled out a gun and began to fire.
“He shot four or five times before he ran off. I looked up and I see smoke coming out of the gun as he’s running and still shooting,” Amirah Montaner, 19, said. “It took me a second to register it actually happened. I ran in the opposite direction.”
She said she’d seen a group of kids walking around inside the mall for about an hour and then begin to yell back and forth at another group outside the mall. She said she overheard someone tell one of the individuals to show the gun if they really had it.
“I think what’s the most shocking is they looked like they were about my age or younger,” she said. “He wasn’t necessarily even looking at what he was shooting. He was just kind of shooting.”
She said she didn’t see anyone get hit or appear to be injured.
Crystal Garcia, who works at the mall, was sitting outside on the curb for her lunch break when she saw a group of 10 to 12 teens arguing. She said they walked toward the doors of the mall, and someone referenced showing their “piece.”
She then heard gunshots inside the mall.
The mall was placed on lockdown and Garcia was unable to get back inside. She said she confirmed that her co-workers were safe.
Law enforcement officers with rifles cleared the mall and assisted downtown businesses and shoppers in leaving the area. Some schools in the area, including Downtown Learning Center, were locked down and the students sheltered in place. Howard Street Charter School and St. Joseph’s Catholic School both had scheduled early release Friday, so there were no students in attendance.
Salem Police issued a shelter in place order that remained in effect for more than an hour and asked residents to stay out of downtown as they searched for a suspect in the vicinity of High and Chemeketa streets. Police said there were no additional shots fired after the initial shooting and no one else was injured.
Several streets were shut down and taped off in the area around the mall. A trail of blood was visible around the mall building and across the street outside Columbia Bank. What looked to be bloody light gray sweatpants were seen lying on the sidewalk near the corner of Church and Court streets.
‘It’s scary’
Sajal Hubbs, owner of Bollywood Brow in the mall, was working with a client when she said she heard three quick shots which she described as “so loud.” They felt nearby but she doesn’t…
Read More: 1 injured in shooting at Salem mall