Whitney M. Woodworth

Statesman Journal

The Salem man accused of shooting and killing another man near Wallace Marine Park early Wednesday morning told police he had been confronted, punched and escorted out of the park by a group of transients before the shooting.

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 Christopher Gerberding, 32, of Salem, next to the body of a man. He was on his hands and knees, screaming, police said. A semi-automatic handgun lay on the ground nearby.

Officials were left wondering: What happened in the early morning hours at the West Salem park that left one man dead and Gerberding, a man described by friends as a “loving, caring father” and a former Marine, under arrest?

Investigators are still piecing together the details of the shooting --- including the identity of the dead man --- but a probable cause statement filed in Polk County recounted the following:

Gerberding told police he had seen a movie downtown Tuesday evening then met his girlfriend in an apartment complex parking lot on Wallace Road NW. The pair walked to Wallace Marine Park and talked for a while before parting ways.

As Gerberding strolled along the trails north of the softball fields, he encountered some transient camps and heard a barking dog. He stopped walking when he heard the dog. Six transients confronted him, he told police, and one of them punched him in the face.

After punching him, someone in the group informed Gerberding they were going to escort him out of the area. He went along with the group as they marched him out of the trail area and back into the western portion of the park. As they neared the park, members of the group broke off and left until only two people were escorting him.

Gerberding told police one of the transients was carrying what looked like a metal pole. Another person accompanying him left. When he reached a shed near the Pioneer Village apartment complex, he said he thought at least one person continued following him, but he could not be sure.

He stopped to urinate near a tree by the shed. As he was urinating, he said 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.

1 arrested, 1 dead after West Salem shooting

He spun around in time to see the man advancing on him. Gerberding drew his pistol and fired several rounds at the man.

After the man fell to the ground gurgling, Gerberding said he called 9-1-1 and attempted to perform CPR on the man, but the man died at the scene.

Police detained Gerberding for questioning. He told investigators the man did not say anything during the incident, and he did not see the man with any weapons. Gerberding was arrested on charges of first-degree manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon.

At his arraignment Thursday, family, friends and Gerberding’s girlfriend crowded in the courtroom. Many of them expressed their dismay and disbelief with the charges.

“He is the nicest guy,” a friend said, shaking his head.

Polk County Circuit Court Judge Norman Hill 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

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