Salem shootout witness: 'It became real for me quick'

SALEM, Ore. – An armed robbery suspect who was shot by Salem police Friday evening was caught on surveillance video at a gas station minutes before a shootout with officers.

Police said they responded to a call of a suspicious man just before 7:30 dressed in dark clothing and a mask at the Texaco on Hoyt and Commercial Street SE. The man left without committing any crime.

Police then said he went south and robbed the FedEx Kinko's on Commercial and Alice at gunpoint at around 8 p.m. Police described it as a take-over style robbery. The suspect robbed the business and customers inside, police said.

When police arrived, they say they confronted the suspect who took off on foot. During a chase, police said the suspect fired an unknown number of shots at officers. Police returned fire, hitting the man once.

The suspect has not been identified.

Kevin Walters was driving his car on Commercial Street when he witnesses the shootout.

“I just thought it was kids out at night,” said Walters. “It became real for me, quick, as soon as the gunfire exchange happened.”

“The gunman had his rifle up and the officer very quickly had his gun up with two hands, and it was just pop, pop, pop, pop,” Walters said.

The suspect was taken into custody and to Salem Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

No one else was hurt in the robbery, something Walters said he’s very thankful for.

“At the time I didn’t feel I was at risk at all but in hindsight I look back on it and think ‘gosh, it all happened within a few feet of my vehicle.’ So I feel very lucky.”