Crime & Courts

Selawik man guilty of 2015 murder and firing at village officer

A Selawik man has been convicted of murdering another man in the Northwest Alaska village last year as well as firing on several other residents including a village police officer.

Alaska State Troopers said in a dispatch that a Kotzebue jury Monday found Christopher Cleveland, 40, guilty of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder and eight counts of assault in the July 6, 2015, death of 23-year-old Wade Cleveland. Troopers previously said there was no family relationship between the two men.

According to charging documents, Cleveland told investigators he was drinking whiskey and homebrew alcohol with the victim at about 2 a.m. when a woman hit him during an argument. He "snapped" as a result, he said, and was about to hit the woman back when Wade Cleveland said he should hit a man instead. Christopher Cleveland struck Wade Cleveland but was then restrained by others present.

Christopher Cleveland then found a .22 rifle, he said, "to shoot everyone." He said he didn't remember shooting Wade Cleveland, whose body was found on a boardwalk by VPO Brent Norton. Norton said Christopher Cleveland immediately fired nearly a dozen shots at him, forcing him to crawl from the scene.

After firing on Norton, investigators said Cleveland broke into a store seeking more ammunition for his rifle but couldn't find any and stole cigarettes instead. He then barricaded himself inside his home and surrendered to troopers about 12 hours after the drinking dispute.

Cleveland was also found guilty Monday of two counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor in a dry village, as well as single counts of burglary, misconduct involving weapons and manufacturing or selling alcohol in a dry area.

A Jan. 11 sentencing date has been set in the case.

Chris Klint

Chris Klint is a former ADN reporter who covered breaking news.

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