A police search for two men involved in an East Anchorage assault Thursday afternoon caused the University of Alaska Anchorage to issue an alert that the armed suspects might have headed to campus.
UAA told its roughly 18,000 students, staff and faculty via automated phone calls and emails that there was no threat to the campus-goers and that the alert was merely a precaution. An Anchorage police spokeswoman said the campus was one of several locations officers thought they might find the suspects.
Someone reported an assault at a home in the 1000 block of Boniface Parkway about 2:15 p.m. Thursday, Anchorage police spokeswoman Dani Myren said. Early information from officers indicated one of the suspects struck the victim on the head with a handgun, Myren said. The investigation continued late Thursday, but it appeared the head wound was not life-threatening, she said.
When the officers learned one or both of the suspects might have driven to the university, Anchorage police notified the campus police department, Myren said. The UAA Police Department issued its warning about two suspects armed with handguns, possibly heading to the campus in a dark blue or purple SUV, about 3:15 p.m., said Manch Garhart, an emergency management associate with the university police.
About 30 minutes later, the university placed another round of calls and sent emails saying that there was no immediate threat to anyone at UAA.
It was unclear if the suspects actually traveled to UAA, Myren said. Officers had not contacted them or arrested anyone in the case as of 5 p.m. Thursday.
Reach Casey Grove at casey.grove@adn.com or 257-4589.
By CASEY GROVE