A grand jury on Friday ruled that a Salem Police officer was justified in using deadly force in the shooting death of a man in South Salem earlier this month.
Grand jury rules fatal Salem police shooting justified
Updated 2:32 PM;
By Les Zaitz | Salem Reporter
Natzeryt “Nat” Viertel stepped out of the shed at his south Salem home, aimed a shotgun at an approaching Salem firefighter and pulled the trigger.
There was only a click.
Salem firefighter Kyle Holestine retreated back out the driveway to the street - Southeast Ewald Avenue - on the evening of April 2, talking to Viertel all the while, trying to calm him.
Viertel, 22, instead racked the shotgun again, advancing on the firefighter.
Within moments, he aimed the shotgun at two Salem police officers, defying orders to drop the weapon.
22-year-old man identified as victim of Salem police shooting
Updated 5:02 PM;
Natzeryt Viertel, 22, died Friday after Salem Police Corporal Clinton Sealey shot him in the 400 block of Ewald Avenue Southeast.
Sealey, as well as Sgt. Steven Galvin, who did not fire a gun, are on paid administrative leave while Oregon State Police investigates the shooting.
According to state police, Salem police officers and firefighters responded around 5:15 p.m. to reports of a suicidal man who had injured himself. Firefighters arrived at the scene before police, and Viertel threatened them with a gun, a state police news release said.
After officers arrived, Viertel confronted them, according to the state police. He was still armed, and Sealey, the Salem officer, shot him. He died at the scene.
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