Two men have been arrested following a violent altercation that left one construction worker critically injured and another with minor injuries at a Salem gas station, according to local authorities. The incident, which occurred in the parking lot of the Arco AMPM located at 3280 Portland Road NE, began when 34-year-old Rafael Lucas Jr. attempted to instigate a confrontation with the workers, as KATU reported. Hours after the initial attempt to provoke a fight, Lucas returned to the scene with Benjamin Constantino-De la Luz, 61, leading to a dispute that escalated quickly when Lucas drew a firearm and gave chase to one of the workers into the convenience store.
During the ensuing chaos, Lucas shot the 48-year-old construction worker in the head, and as another worker, a 70-year-old from Stayton tried intervening in the violent scenario, Constantino-De la Luz struck the good Samaritan with a shovel, as detailed by KGW. Local emergency services responded swiftly to reports of the shooting shortly after 1:30 p.m. However, both aggressors had fled the location, but authorities later apprehended them a few blocks away from the gas station.
Following their arrest, Lucas and Constantino-De la Luz have been charged with several serious offenses including second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and the unlawful use of a weapon, while the wounded construction worker received critical care at Salem Health, and his colleague, despite minor injuries, did not require hospitalization, this selection of charges and the condition of the victims was confirmed by the KOIN report. The owner of the AMPM, Rezq Alsareli, provided urgent assistance to the injured worker by applying a shirt to stem the bleeding in an act of quick thinking until the authorities arrived.
Both suspects are currently being held at the Marion County Jail, as per KOIN." Each face charges that include second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon".
