Beaverton Teen Arrested in Salem PetsMart Gang Related Shooting
Police said the victim was a former gang member who left that culture to better his life.
(SALEM, Ore. ) — Salem Police have arrested a Beaverton, Oregon teenager in connection with a gang related shooting that took place Monday night outside a PetsMart on Lancaster Drive NE.
25-year-old Erik Coronel of Woodburn, was driving through the parking lot of PetsMart, when he encountered two young Hispanic males and one young Hispanic female.
The Hispanic males were making gang gestures and there were words exchanged between them and Coronel.
As Coronel was driving away, one of the males pulled a pistol out of his waistband and began firing at Coronel. Coronel sustained non-life threatening gunshot wounds to his back.
The driver, sped off on Lancaster Drive NE southbound towards Salem Hospital while another person in the vehicle was talking to 9-1-1 dispatchers who got them to stop at the Fred Meyer store at Lancaster Drive and Market Street NE until medics arrived, as Salem News Journal first reported.
The shooter was identified as 18-year-old Jose Antonio Lopez-Avalos of Beaverton.
He was booked into the Marion County Correctional Facility charged with Attempted Murder, Assault II, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
Salem Police Deputy Chief James Ferraris, who is in charge of the Investigations Division said, "I am very pleased at the investigation conducted by the Gang Enforcement Team and detectives. We will not tolerate senseless gang violence in our city and will use all available resources to swiftly hold those responsible accountable."
Video from the scene Monday night from Salem News Journal photographer Jerry Freeman:
