Charges Filed Against Salem Shooting Suspect

Bond has been set at $750,000 for an 18-year-old Salem man who has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm in the aftermath of a shooting at a party in Salem Friday night.

The charges against Tyler Caswell of Salem involved the alleged shootings of 21-year-old Jacob Joyner of Salem and 20-year-old Jacob Hayes of Salem.

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Marion County State’s Attorney Bill Milner set the charges Sunday after reviewing the reports of the shooting at a home in the 700 block of Markland Street. All are Class X felonies.

Salem Police were able to interview Hayes at the hospital in St. Louis where both he and Joyner were taken for treatment.

Milner says he is not releasing any details on what happened leading up to the shooting as the investigation is still ongoing.

Salem Police Chief Sean Reynolds says a number of interviews remain to be completed in the next few days. He hopes they may be able to answer some of the unknowns about the shooting.

Salem Police say it is unclear how many people had been at the birthday party when the gunshots were fired. They report many scattered immediately after the gunfire, while others scrambled to get away as police arrived. Those at the party included young adults as well as high school students.

It is believed former Marion County State's Attorney Matt Wilzbach will enter the case on behalf of Caswell.

Meanwhile, bond was set at $25,000 for an 18-year-old Mt. Vernon man who has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a stolen firearm after the car in which he was a passenger was seen leaving the party. Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies say Roderick Oats admitted to having the .38 special before police completed a pat down. They report the gun was loaded with four bullets and had the hammer cocked. The gun was stolen in 1982 from Hanover, Massachusetts.

The other four in the two cars stopped on the Denny’s Parking Lot in Salem were released without being charged after being questioned about information they knew from the party.