Salem shooting suspect Keonte Caldwell gets 20 years in prison for two deaths in 2019

Family members of the two men killed in a 2019 shooting in northeast Salem stood up in court Tuesday and made it clear: They thought Keonte Caldwell was a murderer — and his 20-year prison sentence was nowhere near enough time behind bars.

Friends Bradley Kelley and Michael Buntjer were helping at the home of Coral Olfert, Caldwell's then-girlfriend, when they were killed. Caldwell, 26, initially charged with murdering the friends, was sentenced on the lesser charges of manslaughter.

"The system has failed us," said Elise Hammer, the mother of Kelley's son. "This is not justice."

Caldwell's brother, Curtis Welch, 30, is already serving 20 years in prison after a jury opted to convict him of manslaughter instead of murder for his role in the shooting. He was acquitted on an attempted aggravated murder charge for shooting Olfert, who was pregnant. She later lost her unborn child.

Caldwell was set to stand trial on murder charges in July. But in the weeks leading up to the trial, he accepted a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to two lesser counts of first-degree manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon.

First-degree manslaughter carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years. Judges can elect to sentence multiple convictions concurrently or consecutively. According to the stipulated plea, Caldwell would serve the two manslaughter sentences back-to-back for a total prison term of 20 years with no eligibility for early release.

The shooting

On May 6, 2019, Olfert, Kelley, 35, and Buntjer, 35 were outside the home in the 3600 block of Joshua Avenue NE when Olfert's former boyfriend, Caldwell, allegedly threatened the group with a knife. Her father and 2-year-old son were inside the home at the time.

The group chased Caldwell off, but he and Welch returned with a gun.

Marion County deputies responded to reports of shots fired at the home just after 10 p.m. and found three people with multiple gunshot wounds. Family and friends of the victims said Kelley was shot at least six times and Buntjer was shot at least five times. More than 15 shell casings were found at the scene.

Kelley died at the scene. Buntjer and Olfert were transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Buntjer later died at the hospital.

Deputies tracked Welch and Caldwell to the Roseburg area and arrested them less than 24 hours later.

Initially, the brothers were charged with two counts of aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder. The charges were reduced to first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder due to legislation that narrowed the number of crimes that qualify as aggravated murder in Oregon — the only offense punishable by death.

Family members were shocked when the jury convicted Welch, who they said fired the deadly shots, of manslaughter instead of murder.

Kelley's mother, Lora Lee Kelley, described the day she found out about his death as the worst day of her life. She remembered her son's wife Amy Kelley shaking in her arms and then seeing a smiling Caldwell at his arraignment.

"You had a smirk on your face like you were so proud of yourself," she told Caldwell during his sentencing.

The ensuing years were a nightmare. They couldn't believe that Kelley, with his big booming voice, contagious laugh and penchant for big bear hugs, was gone.

A lifelong resident of Salem, he loved fishing, camping, barbequing and tow trucks.

Buntjer was also an avid outdoorsman and had just found his passion fighting wildfires. His mother Lisa Buntjer said during the sentencing that he grew up learning to fight bullies and defend himself.

She said she was grateful they didn't have to endure another trial but found no end to her family's feeling of loss.

David Buntjer, 18, remembers his father as a man of character. His father's actions that night spoke to the power of that character; Caldwell's actions spoke to the power of his cowardice, he said.

His father and Kelley were the greatest men he'd ever known, David said. His father's death is the hardest thing he'd ever dealt with and he now struggles with housing and feeling secure.

Throughout the families' victim impact statements, Caldwell sat facing Judge Daniel Wren. When Wren offered him a chance to speak on his behalf, Caldwell declined to talk.

Wren delivered the stipulated sentence. He said the evidence presented during Welch's trial pointed to the whole tragedy being instigated by Caldwell and his reported abusive actions toward Olfert.

"It did start with your actions," Wren said. "But when I've seen you in court, I don't know if you've realized the hurt and impact you've caused."

He sentenced Caldwell to 20 years before deputies led him past his victims' families in the gallery and back to jail.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem shooting suspect gets 20 years in prison for 2 deaths