Fight at Salem AMPM leads to shots fired, one hospitalized and two arrested

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — Police are investigating after a shooting at a convenience store left a man in the hospital and two arrested in Salem Thursday afternoon.

According to Salem police, a fight that broke out in the parking lot of the Arco AMPM on 3820 Portland RD NE escalated to gunfire, with one man being shot. Two people were arrested.

Just after 1:40 p.m., emergency personnel responded to the scene for reports of a shooting. The suspect, 34-year-old Salem resident Rafael Lucas Jr., allegedly tried to “start a fight with several members of a construction crew working in the store parking lot,” according to a witness account, the Salem Police Department said in a release.

“Lucas returned after several hours with a second suspect, Benjamin Constantino-De la Luz, age 61 of Salem,” police said. “A verbal dispute ensued between one of the crew workers and Lucas. Lucas then pulled out a pistol and chased the victim who ran inside the store with Lucas and Constantino-De la Luz pursuing him.”

The construction worker was then allegedly shot in the head by Lucas. Another construction worker attempting to aid the shooting victim was then allegedly twice struck by Constantino-De la Luz with a shovel, police said.

Both of the suspects fled the scene but were later located and a few blocks away and arrested. Both Lucas and Constantino-De la Luz are now accused of attempted murder, among other charges.

A 48-year-old Salem man was taken to a hospital with “critical injuries.” Another man, a 70-year-old Strayton resident, was also minorly injured but wasn’t taken to a hospital.

The owner of the AMPM, Rezq Alsareli, told KOIN 6 News he helped to slow the bleeding of the man who was shot in the head by applying pressure to the wound with a shirt until police arrived.

Lucas and Constantino-De la Luz are being lodged in the Marion County Jail and each face charges that include second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.

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