FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   

DATE: July 25, 2024

CONTACT:      Salem Police Communications Office | spdmedia@cityofsalem.net

Salem, Ore. — At approximately 1:40 p.m. today, emergency personnel responded to the Arco AMPM at 3820 Portland RD NE on a call of shots fired. Witnesses reported that earlier in the day the suspect, identified as Rafael Lucas Jr., age 34 of Salem, was attempting to start a fight with several members of a construction crew working in the store parking lot. Lucas returned after several hours with a second suspect, Benjamin Constantino-De la Luz, age 61 of Salem. 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.

Lucas fired the gun, shooting the construction worker in the head. Constantino-De la Luz used a shovel to twice strike another construction worker who was attempting to aid the shooting victim. Both Lucas and Constantino-De la Luz then fled the store.

The shooting victim, a 48-year-old Salem man, was taken to Salem Health with critical injuries and remains under medical care. The second victim, a 70-year-old Stayton resident, received minor injuries in the incident and was not transported to the hospital.

Officers located Lucas and Constantino-De la Luz blocks from the crime scene and were taken into custody without incident. Both were transported to the Marion County Jail, each lodged on the following charges:

• Attempted murder, second-degree
• Assault, first-degree
• Assault, second-degree, two counts
• Unlawful use of a weapon

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SMP24063855 Still image from video surveillance.