16-year-old Jose Vasquez-Valenzuela killed after shooting at Bush’s Pasture Park in Salem

Update: On the late evening of March 8, accompanied by a parent, Nathaniel Shauntae McCrae Jr. surrendered himself at the Salem Police Station and was apprehended without any issues.

The 16-year-old McCrae was then taken to the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center and charged with the following offenses:

• Murder in the second degree
• Attempted murder in the second degree, two counts
• Assault in the first degree, two counts
• Unlawful use of a weapon

With the suspect in custody, all further inquiries concerning this investigation should be directed to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.

Original Report:

The Salem Police Department has named the teenager who was fatally shot in Bush’s Pasture Park on Thursday afternoon.

At approximately 1:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to a shooting near High Street Southeast and Leffelle Street Southeast.

Preliminary investigations indicate that two sizable groups of teenagers were present at Bush’s Pasture Park when the shooting occurred.

Three teenagers were discovered at the scene with gunshot injuries. Regrettably, one of them, identified as 16-year-old Jose Vasquez-Valenzuela, succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Two other teenagers, 15-year-old Damien Esquivel-Soto and another 16-year-old boy, are currently hospitalized.

The Salem Police Department has chosen not to disclose the name of the 16-year-old boy at this juncture.

“We have been unable to reach the family to notify them. Until we can do so, we will be withholding his name,” stated public information officer Angela Hedrick.

No arrests have been made as of now.

“Right now, we are solely focused on resolving this crime, holding the perpetrator(s) accountable, and ensuring justice for these victims and their families,” stated Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack. “However, we must continue our collaboration with the community to devise an effective intervention and prevention plan to address this unacceptable level of violence.”

Authorities are urging anyone who may have witnessed the shooting and has not yet spoken to detectives to contact the tips line at 503-588-8477 and reference case number 24-19870.