Whitney M. Woodworth

Statesman Journal

Police identified the man killed in Wednesday's fatal shooting near Wallace Marine Park as a 30-year-old Salem resident.

Manuel Zavala was allegedly shot and killed in the early morning hours by Christopher Gerberding, 32, of Salem, said Lt. Dave Okada, a Salem police spokesman.

Police responding to calls of shots fired near Calico Street NW and Taybin Road NW around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday received a second call from a man claiming to have just shot someone.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found Gerberding next to Zavala's lifeless body. Gerberding was on his hands and knees, screaming, police said. A semi-automatic handgun lay on the ground nearby.

Gerberding walked to Wallace Marine Park with his girlfriend after seeing a movie at a downtown theater. He and his girlfriend parted ways, and he continued along the trails near the park's softball fields. After stumbling on a transient camp, he told police was confronted, punched and escorted out of the park by a group of transients.

Police: Man confronted by transients before shooting

Gerberding said he stopped to urinate on a tree near the Pioneer Village apartments, and an unknown man — he was unsure whether it was one of the transients who’d been following him — came up behind him and grabbed his shoulders.

Gerberding drew his pistol and fired several rounds at the man. The man, later identified as Zavala, fell to the ground gurgling.

Gerberding called 9-1-1 and attempted to perform CPR on the wounded man. Zavala was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is unknown whether Zavala was a transient camping in the park, but records filed in June listed a North Salem residence as his address.

According to court records, Zavala was on post-prison supervision with Marion County. In June, he pleaded guilty to methamphetamine possession and interfering with a police officer. He was also convicted for failing to register as sex offender in 2016. Following his guilty plea to first-degree sexual abuse — he was accused of touching the breasts of a girl under the age of 14 — he was sentenced to six years in prison in 2008 and required to register as a sex offender.

1 arrested, 1 dead after West Salem shooting

Gerberding was arrested on charges of first-degree manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon. At an arraignment Wednesday, Polk County Circuit Court Judge Norman set Gerberding's bail at $100,000.

His next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 15 at the Polk County courthouse.

Email wmwoodwort@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-399-6884 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth