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Dennis Scharf

Case from Salem, OR dated May 07, 1981

Victim Details

Dennis Scharf

Male

White / Caucasian

Salem

OR

1981-05-07

56

Dennis

Scharf

06/29/2026

Case Description

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On a spring evening in Salem, Oregon, the lives of many were irrevocably altered. Inside the Oregon Museum Tavern on May 7, 1981, Dennis Scharf, a 56-year-old Caucasian male, was among the patrons when a gunman shattered the ordinary Thursday night. The sudden eruption of violence left Scharf with devastating injuries that would forever change the course of his life. While he survived the initial onslaught, the shooting left him a quadriplegic, beginning a long and arduous journey of survival.
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Links to Additional Sources (7)

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  • Legacy.com: Dennis Scharf Obituary (2013) - Salem, OR - The Statesman Journal
  • Oregon Museum Tavern shooting - Wikipedia
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    Forum Posts (2)

    I've been thinking a lot about the courage it must have taken for those patrons to confront Lawrence... ...Read More
    07/05/2023
    Has anyone else read about the unfortunate incident at the Oregon Museum Tavern back in 1981? I can'... ...Read More
    05/12/2023
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