Rural Alaska

Victim of fatal Barrow shooting was North Slope Borough search-and-rescue official

A man who had been a North Slope Borough search-and-rescue coordinator was shot to death Thursday morning at a home in Barrow, according to the borough.

A statement from borough spokesperson David Fauske identified the victim as Billy Jens Leavitt, 43. A page on the borough's website lists Leavitt as the search coordinator for North Slope Borough Search and Rescue.

Fauske said borough police received a report from "an unknown male" of the shooting, at a home on the 5000 block of Laura Maddison Street, just before 5:15 a.m. Thursday.

"Officers responded to find that (Leavitt) had been shot and was deceased," Fauske wrote.

In a follow-up email, Fauske said few other details were immediately available — except the shooting was not a suicide.

Fairbanks District Attorney Greggory Olson said an assistant from his office arrived in Barrow Friday morning to review the borough's investigation and determine whether criminal charges should be filed.

"My understanding is that no one's in custody," Olson said. "It appears that the participants involved in the incident have been identified."

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Fauske emphasized Friday "the public has nothing to fear" regarding any suspect being at large.

More information will be available on the case, Olson said, after several factors — including the results of an autopsy on Leavitt — had been considered.

"The borough's thoughts and prayers are with the families as they and our community deal with this tragedy," Fauske wrote.

Chris Klint

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

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