A man was shot while sitting on a bench at a Midtown Anchorage park Sunday afternoon, in what police say was a "targeted" attack by a shooter who then fled the scene on foot.
The shooter was at large as of Sunday evening, according to Anchorage Police Department spokeswoman Renee Oistad.
At 2:27 p.m. police received calls about gunshots at Arctic Benson Park, located at 750 W. 31st Ave. in Midtown.
A 39-year-old man was sitting on a bench at the park with what police described as a female acquaintance.
"A suspect adult male walked up to the couple on the bench, the men exchanged words and the suspect fired two shots before fleeing the area on foot," Oistad said.
The man was hit once in the back, Oistad said. She said she didn't know whether the gunman approached the man from behind, or if he was fleeing when the shots were fired.
The woman was uninjured.
Police described the suspect as a thin white man wearing a black hoodie and black pants.
Witnesses in the park at the time gave statements to police, said APD spokeswoman Renee Oistad Sunday.
The shooting appeared to be "targeted" and isn't believed to be random, she said.
Arctic Benson Park, a pocket of land just off Arctic Boulevard, has been known as a magnet for outdoor drinkers and associated problems.
In 2011, the Anchorage Parks Foundation gave the park an "F" grade, saying neighbors didn't feel it was safe because of public drinking and drug use.
In 2013, a fenced dog play area was added in a bid to attract new users.
As of Sunday evening, no arrests had been made in the case, according to APD.