In a tragic turn of events on the evening of March 3, 2022, Gloria Rivas Castillo, a 45-year-old Hispanic woman, was killed in her home in East Salem, Oregon. The incident, which unfolded on Southeast Elma Avenue, stemmed from a domestic disturbance that ultimately escalated into a fatal shooting. Responding to a 911 call made around 7:40 p.m. by a man who admitted to shooting someone, Marion County Sheriff's deputies arrived to find Rivas-Castillo with critical injuries.
Despite their life-saving efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the death of Gloria Rivas Castillo quickly led to the identification and arrest of her 34-year-old boyfriend, Cruz Hernandez-Rivera. Hernandez-Rivera, who was the individual who placed the 911 call, was taken into custody by deputies at the residence. The Marion County Sheriff's Office handled the investigation, and Hernandez-Rivera was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon. It was also revealed that at the time of the incident, he had outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court on charges of invasion of personal privacy and attempted coercion, in which Rivas-Castillo was listed as the victim.
Following his arrest, Cruz Hernandez-Rivera was booked into the Marion County Jail. The charges of unlawful use of a weapon were related to allegations that he intended to use a firearm against two other individuals and attempted to use it against a third person during the incident. No one else was injured. The family of Gloria Rivas Castillo expressed their gratitude for the community's concern and requested privacy as they mourned their loss.
