22-03-2025
State trooper justified in killing Salem man at Army Aviation Support Facility, grand jury finds
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon State Police trooper who in Salem last month was justified in using deadly force against him, according to a Marion County grand jury.
The unanimous decision came after the grand jury reviewed evidence of the shooting that took place on Feb. 27 when police troopers responded to a 'suspicious' person at the Salem-Willamette Valley Airport on Turner Road SE.
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Senior Trooper Justin Oxenrider shot 22-year-old Matthew Walter Wong of Salem near the facility's security gate, prompting an investigation into the moments that led to the shooting.
The incident began after OSP responded to reports of a person giving a threatening note to the guard outside the airfield. The note reportedly said, 'I will give you 10 minutes' to lay down arms. The person reporting the incident said it was the same individual who had appeared at the same location, repeatedly, in the last three days.
The Marion County DA's Office shared the following information about the events that followed:
When Senior Trooper Oxenrider arrived at the guard station, he could see an individual matching the suspect's description sitting on a stone bench near an airplane monument immediately southwest of the guard shack. Senior Trooper Oxenrider turned on both his on-board dash camera and body worn camera before he got out of the vehicle. He put on sanitary gloves (a common law enforcement practice), expecting to contact Wong due to the threatening note, history of threats against law enforcement, and active warrant for Wong's arrest.
Once he got out of the vehicle, Senior Trooper Oxenrider yelled out: 'Hey Partner! How you doin'?'' Wong turned, stood up, and said something which is not intelligible from the audio on the body worn camera. Wong began to walk away with his hands in pockets, and Senior Trooper Oxenrider told him: 'K, you gotta take your hands outta your pockets for me, please.' Wong refused, and instead told Senior Trooper Oxenrider he would leave.
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As Wong began to walk east across the parking lot, Senior Trooper Oxenrider walked behind his marked Oregon State Police SUV and re-addressed Wong in the parking lot. As they walked southeast towards a grassy embankment, Senior Trooper Oxenrider told Wong 'No, you're not leaving right now,' and again ordered Wong to take his hands out of his pockets. Again, Wong refused. Senior Trooper Oxenrider pulled out his less-than-lethal conducted energy device (hereinafter referred to as 'Taser').
Shortly thereafter, Wong removed his hands from his jacket pocket and put his hands up while displaying a knife with an exposed blade. Senior Trooper Oxenrider asked Wong if he wanted to get tased. Senior Trooper Oxenrider deployed his taser at Wong but missed. Wong then charged Senior Trooper Oxenrider saying something unintelligible about a gun.
Wong and Senior Trooper Oxenrider engaged in a brief physical struggle, and they spun. During this physical exchange, Wong was holding his knife and swiped at the Trooper while Senior Trooper Oxenrider was still holding his taser. Senior Trooper Oxenrider testified that he tried to throw Wong to the ground but was unsuccessful. Again, Senior Trooper Oxenrider deployed his Taser, but again, the probes didn't make sufficient contact for an effective deployment. The parties separated and Wong continued to walk southeast onto the grassy area between the entry driveway and Turner Road. Senior Trooper Oxenrider followed Wong, mirroring Wong's direction of travel.
Senior Trooper Oxenrider testified that he was not going to let Wong leave the location because he believed that Wong was a threat to anyone in the immediate area and for the public at large.
As Senior Trooper Oxenrider commanded Wong to 'Put the gun down!' Wong said 'I really don't want to hurt you' while Senior Trooper Oxenrider immediately corrected himself, and commanded Wong to, 'Put the knife down!' Wong did not drop the weapon but instead continued to walk southeast towards Turner Road.
Senior Trooper Oxenrider took two shots at Wong, who walked a few more steps, and then fell to the grass.
A medical examiner determined Wong died of the gunshot wounds, sharing that 'one bullet entered and exited Wong's right arm, entered the right side of his chest, exited his left side of his chest' while the 'other shot hit Wong in the right back slightly behind his right arm and exited his upper left chest.'
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The DA's office said Wong had an active warrant for his arrest in Marion County for alleged unlawful use of a weapon. He had two prior arrests, but no previous convictions. Following his death, investigators said Wong had 'committed and attempted to commit' attempted robbery, attempted first and second-degree assault, and unlawful use of a weapon.
After he was shot, a knife was recovered from the scene, according to police.
'I would like to thank the Grand Jury for their careful and thorough review of this dangerous situation. It is tragic that Mr. Wong was experiencing mental health struggles, and this case highlights the dangerous outcomes for our neighbors, our law enforcement officers and our community when such issues go unaddressed,' DA Paige Clarkson said in a statement. 'Senior Trooper Oxenrider was faced with an untenable situation not of his own creation. I know that no one wanted this outcome on that day.'
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