Salem, Ore. — At approximately 5:45 a.m. on May 1, 2023, Salem Police Department officers were involved in a deadly use of force incident on Fisher Road NE in Salem. Officers were attempting to arrest Andrew Erling Kjostad, age 34, who was suspected of multiple shootings throughout Marion County the previous night.
At about 5:01 p.m. on April 30th, 2023, the Woodburn Police Department responded to a report of shots fired on Young Street in downtown Woodburn. A nearby traffic camera captured an image of a white GMC Envoy driven by a male in the area at the time. The vehicle had no license plates.
At about 7:38 p.m. on April 30, 2023, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant was patrolling the area of Lancaster Drive in Salem, in a marked patrol car, when his vehicle was struck with gunfire. Upon stopping to inspect his vehicle, the Sergeant saw a white GMC Envoy with no plates fleeing the scene southbound.
Almost immediately thereafter, at about 7:39 p.m., two Salem Police officers were patrolling Silverton Road NE in Salem, in a marked patrol car, when they heard multiple popping noises. A witness reported seeing a white male shoot at least twice from the driver’s seat of a white SUV towards the Salem patrol unit. A nearby traffic camera captured an image of the driver of a white GMC Envoy shooting towards the Salem officers.
Investigators were able to identify Kjostad as being associated with the white GMC and began actively looking for him in the early morning hours of May 1, 2023.
The Salem Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team was deployed due to the substantial risk Kjostad potentially posed to both police officers and the public. Once located on Fisher Road in Salem, Kjostad ran from officers and was shot by a Salem Police SWAT officer during the attempt to apprehend him. A .45 caliber handgun was found lying near Kjostad at the time of his arrest (picture attached).
The Salem officer involved has been identified as Corporal Adam Waite. Corporal Waite has been with the Salem Police Department for 15 years.
Kjostad was rendered aid at the scene and was transported to Salem Health Emergency Department for treatment of a gunshot wound sustained during the incident. He remains at Salem Health at the time of this press release. No further information is available about his medical condition. No officers were injured during the event.
Pursuant to Marion County Use of Deadly Force (SB 111) protocols, the Marion County District Attorney’s Office requested the Oregon State Police investigate this incident and any involved officers have been placed on paid administrative leave. Investigators from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Woodburn Police Department and the Keizer Police Department are also assisting with the investigation. As this is an on-going investigation, no additional information is available for release at this time. Any further information will be released by the Marion County District Attorney’s Office at the conclusion of a full investigation and the closure of any potential criminal prosecutions.