Montez Bailey Honored at Site of Fatal Salem Park Shooting (VIDEO)

"The family and friends, we don't want retaliation, all we want is love. It takes something tragic to bring a community together, and there should be togetherness all the time, not just for somebody getting killed for nothing." - Debi Ancala, friend of the Bailey family

Photo and video by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Hearts in Salem are broken over the senseless shooting death of Montez Bailey, a young man who was shot and fatally wounded while sitting on a park bench with two friends earlier this week. His friends where also shot, but they survived.

Police are still looking for the killer.

The other two men who were shot are 21-year old Skylar Bailey, and 20-year old Cameron Carolino.

A tribute honoring Montez was held Thursday in Salem at the park where he and his friends were attacked by a young man with a gun. Advocates for Salem are unhappy and shocked.

Eduardo Angulo, longtime advocate for kids in the Salem area said, "This is one of the most senseless crimes that we have ever had to witness in our lifetime. It was just 30-second encounter between kids who didn't know each other. We don't know how by the grace of God, some kid could do something like he... this kid, did."

The memorial at Northgate Park was attended by family and friends, and also community leaders like Salem Police Chief Gerry Moore, as well as neighborhood activist, Debi Alcala.

She said, "This is our remembrance to say goodbye to a kid who didn't deserve this at all, and all we're asking is that peace and justice be done. And the family asked everybody out there to say prayers, not only for him, but for the boy's family who shot him, because they are going to lose a son too sooner or later, justice will be served."

Advocates like Alcala echoed a theme that seemed to be in sync with words from Salem's Police chief. While there is anger, an active investigation will eventually lead police to the killer, and all hope, over time, more peace in Salem; a city with a name that actually translates to peace.

"The family and friends, we don't want retaliation, all we want is love. It takes something tragic to bring a community together, and there should be togetherness all the time, not just for somebody getting killed for nothing."

While police have not specifically stated that the shooting was gang-related, others who have contacted Salem-News.com and talked to our crews in the field, say it was.

Montez Bailey was not in a gang according to his family and others who knew him, but the suspect who remains at large, likely is a gang member, according to unconfirmed reports.