Yesterday a Marion County Grand Jury unanimously found that Salem Police Officer Jeremy Mitchell was justified in using deadly force against Jonathan Michael Martin, date of birth, February 8, 1998, shortly before 5:00 p.m. on November 9, 2023.
The shooting occurred when Officer Mitchell responded to a report of a man brandishing and pointing a firearm at multiple victims outside of several businesses near the intersection of Lancaster and Beverly. Upon contact, there was a brief altercation between Officer Mitchell and Jonathan Michael Martin that led to Officer Mitchell shooting through the windshield of his marked patrol vehicle, striking Martin once in the shoulder.
Martin’s injury was non-life-threatening. He was transported to Salem Hospital and released later that evening and then lodged at the Marion County Jail on an unrelated warrant for a probation violation on an underlying conviction for Attempted Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree. Officer Mitchell was not injured.
The same Grand Jury that found Officer Mitchell’s actions to be justified also indicted Jonathan Michael Martin for five counts of Menacing. It should be noted that after his arrest, it was determined that Martin’s “gun” was a realistic looking air soft pistol, (picture attached).
Jonathan Michael Martin was arraigned on the indictment today at 2:30 p.m. His next appearance will be on January 10, 2024 at 8:00 before the Honorable Lindsey Partridge at the Marion County Courthouse.
Due to the ongoing nature of Jonathan Michael Martin’s criminal case, the DA’s Office will not release any further details of the shooting or the crimes at this time.
