Here's the statement issued by Anchorage Police on the death of a soldier from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson:
Subject: Man Dies Playing Russian roulette, Another Man Charged
Anchorage Police responded to a shooting at an Eagle River home, located at the 11600 block of Dawn Street, at 2:07 a.m. Sunday, March 06, 2011. The victim, a 26-year-old army soldier died at a local hospital shortly after the shooting; his friend, also in the military, has been charged with his murder. Both military men were on active-duty status.
According to witness accounts, the victim had stayed Friday night at the Eagle River home of Jacob Brouch, 25, stationed in Alaska from California. At some point in time on Saturday, the two men began drinking and posing for photos with a revolver belonging to Brouch. Eventually the gun-play resulted in a game of Russian roulette. Detectives say that the victim was holding the gun to his stomach when he accidently fired the weapon. Brouch, his wife, and their two teenage children were in the home at the time of the incident; no one else was injured.
Police charged Brouch with Murder in the Second Degree for knowingly providing the weapon which resulted in the death of his friend. Brouch was lodged at the Anchorage Jail; bail will be set on Monday during his arraignment.
The victim's name is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin. He is from North Carolina.
This is the first homicide the Anchorage Police Department has investigated this year.
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Here's the statement issued earlier in the day from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Death of Soldier
March 6, 2011
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - A 3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Soldier died of a gunshot wound received at the Eagle River residence of another Soldier early this morning.
A 911 call was made and paramedics and members of the Anchorage Police Department arrived at the residence and attempted to revive the Soldier. The Soldier was transported to Providence Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 3:06 a.m.
The incident is under investigation by the Anchorage Police Department.
The name of the Soldier is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.
Anchorage Daily News / adn.com