Update: Police originally misidentified the name of the suspect. His name has been corrected.

Two 17-year-old boys were crossing Center Street in Salem on Sunday when a driver yelled at them, telling them to get out of the road.

The teens yelled back, according to a news release from the Marion County Sheriff's Office. The driver pulled into a parking lot at Center Street NE and Lancaster Drive NE and confronted the pair.

Edward Francis West, 59, of Salem.

The three argued, and the driver, 59-year-old Edward Francis West, eventually slapped one of the teens, the release said.

West went back to his truck and grabbed a small black handgun, the release said, and pointed it at the teens.

"Get ready to die," West said, according to the sheriff's office.

But a man on a green motorcycle used his helmet to knock the gun out of West's hands, giving the teens time to run away.

The boys didn't get a good look at the motorcyclist, who rode away. The Marion County Sheriff's office is asking for the public's help finding the mystery rider or any other witnesses. Call Deputy Banks at 503-932-0867 with any information.

West has been booked at the Marion County Jail on charges of harassment, menacing, assault and unlawful use of a weapon.

-- Melissa Binder

mbinder@oregonian.com

503-294-7656

@binderpdx