SALEM, Ore. — A teenager has pleaded guilty to shooting and killing another teenager in Bush's Pasture Park last year.

On Friday, in Marion County juvenile court, Nathaniel Shauntae McCrae Jr. "admitted" to second-degree murder, also pleading guilty to unlawful use of a weapon (firearm), both stemming from the shooting death of 16-year-old Jose Vasquez-Valenzuela.

On March 7, 2024, at 1:14 p.m., two large groups of young adults approached each other at the Salem park. A confrontation ensued, with McCrae — 16 years old at the time — drawing a gun and shooting at the crowd Vasquez-Valenzuela was in. Vasquez-Valenzuela was hit in the left side of the chest, then died at the scene.

Two other teenagers also had non-fatal gunshot wounds.

South Salem High School went into lockdown for sever

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