According to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office, a grand jury on Wednesday determined that the conduct of Salem police officers in the fatal shooting of a man in the Salem-Keizer area last month were reasonable.
The Oregon State Police conducted an independent investigation for weeks prior to the grand jury’s decision. Video footage, ballistics data, medical examiner findings, drug tests, and witness evidence were all considered by the jurors.
According to Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson, the shooting investigation once more demonstrated to her how eager our law enforcement officials are to keep our community safe. frequently at considerable personal risk.
According to a statement from the Marion County District Attorney’s Office, Shawn Baker, 42, was shot three times by officers Chad Galusha and John Diaz on January 22 at approximately 11:30 a.m. in the Laurel Gate Court Apartments in Salem, close to the border with Keizer.
At the scene, Baker passed away.
According to the district attorney’s office, police had already detained the other suspect on a number of offenses after looking into Baker and another suspect in relation to a string of thefts that occurred in the Salem region in December 2024 and January 2025. The other suspect’s name was not made public by authorities.
The district attorney’s office stated that investigators had been monitoring Baker’s travels on the day he was shot and had gathered sufficient evidence to make an arrest. Baker was thought to carry weapons often, had no fixed address, and had previously eluded authorities.
As he rode a bike toward the Laurel Gate Court Apartments on River Road, a location he was known to attend, officers devised a plan to arrest him after a plainclothes detective spotted him on the morning of January 22 while he was at a family-owned company, according to the district attorney’s office.
He started riding his bike toward the apartment complex when police attempted to stop him, then got off and ran away on foot. According to Ring video released to the media and the district attorney’s office, one cop chased Baker on foot while yelling that the suspect was armed.
Police cruisers with bright sirens and uniformed cops pulled into the residential complex.
Officers Diaz and Galusha exited their vehicles and joined the chase.
Officers yelled Drop it! repeatedly. According to the district attorney’s office, Baker did not comply with any of the officers’ directives.
After sprinting up a set of steps, Baker turned to face Diaz and Galusha.
According to the district attorney’s office, Baker started to elevate the gun toward both policemen.
He was shot at by the cops.
The video footage’s point of view does not capture the purported moment when Baker turned to face the armed officers.
According to police, Baker passed away at the site despite receiving first assistance from emergency medical personnel.
The district attorney’s office reports that following the shooting, police discovered almost an ounce of methamphetamine in Baker’s pockets.
According to the district attorney’s office, one of the apartment complex’s residents testified that she heard the cops shouting orders and observed Baker brandishing a revolver.
Baker had an outstanding warrant for parole violations at the time of the shooting. His past offenses included identity theft, fourth-degree assault, first- and second-degree burglary, and stealing.
Crime, public safety, and local news are all topics covered by breaking news reporter Tatum Todd. You can contact them at 503-221-4313 or [email protected].
