SALEM, Ore. — A Salem police officer shot a man during an attempted arrest Monday morning. The Salem Police Department (SPD) said the man identified as Andrew Erling Kjostad, 34, that was shot by the officer was a person of interest in two separate incidents the night before in which police cars were hit by bullets in Salem.
The Marion County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) responded to a report of a shooting on Young Street in downtown Woodburn at around 5:01 p.m. on Sunday. Nearby traffic cameras captured a picture of a white GMC Envoy with no license plates that was driven by a man at the time. MCSO have since associated the car and confirmed Kjostad as the driver, according to the Oregon State Police (OSP).
Around 7:38 p.m. on Sunday night, a MCSO sergeant was near Lancaster Drive Northeast and Devonshire Court in Salem patrolling the area in a patrol car. When the vehicle was suddenly hit by bullets, after stopping to access the damages on the car the sergeant spotted the same white GMC Envoy from the previous incident on Sunday in downtown Woodburn driving southbound from the scene.
Immediately after, at about 7:39 p.m., two Salem police officers were on patrol in a marked patrol car near the intersection of Silverton Road Northeast and Fairhaven Avenue heard multiple popping noises. A witness reported seeing Kjostad shoot at least twice from the driver's seat of a white SUV at the two officers. A nearby traffic camera also caught an image of Kjostad shooting towards the officers, says OSP.
Investigators later identified Kjostad being associated with the white GMC and started searching for him early Monday morning.
The Salem Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team assisted the officers in their search due to the threat that Kjostad posed to not only officers by the public at the time, says OSP.
Once located near Fisher Road Northeast in Salem, Kjostad ran away from officers and was shot in an attempt to capture him by a Salem Police SWAT officer. A handgun was found near Kjostad at the time of his arrest. The officer who shot Kjostad was identified as Corporal Adam Waite. Waite has been with SPD for 15 years, according to OSP.
Medical aid was provided to Kjostad at the scene and he was later taken to the Salem Health Emergency Department for treatment of the gunshot wound. He is currently at Salem Health as of Monday night.
No deputies or officers were injured in either incidents, according to OSP.
During the investigation into Monday's shooting, Fisher Road Northeast was closed between Market Street and Sunnyview Road in Salem. The streets were opened again to traffic by 3:30 Monday afternoon.
Due to Marion County's Use of Deadly Force (SB 111) protocols, the Marion County District Attorney’s Office requested that OSP investigate this incident in addition to any involved officers that have been placed on paid administrative leave. Investigators from the MCSO, the Woodburn Police Department and the Keizer Police Department are assisting with the on going investigation.
A Salem police spokesperson told KGW on Monday morning that the department was not responding to interview requests at the time.
This story will be updated when more information is made available.
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