Two friends were drinking and relaxing together Saturday evening in East Anchorage when, police say, one broke the bottle and the other became angry.
Now one young man is dead and another is jailed on a murder charge.
Police identified the suspect as Duol John Chuol, 22, and the man killed as Mabil Kayier Duir, 24.
Several witnesses called 911 at 7:14 p.m. to report that a man had been stabbed multiple times with a knife behind Value Village, at East Northern Lights Boulevard and Boniface Parkway, the charging document filed in court Sunday said.
"The witnesses reported the victim did not appear to have assaulted or threatened the suspect. Rather, they described that it appeared the victim either fell or was pulled down to the ground and the suspect began stabbing the victim after initially dragging the victim a short distance in the alleyway," the charges said.
The suspect, later identified as Chuol, fled, police said. An Anchorage police officer headed to the scene eastbound lane on Northern Lights saw a man matching witness descriptions in the yard of a nearby residence. As the officer drove past, the man ducked behind a black truck parked in front. Two people on the porch pointed at the man, and the officer drove over the median and into the driveway, the charging document said.
The suspect then jumped a fence and tried to run away but when the officer shouted commands at him, he came back, the document said. He had blood on a pair of tan pants he was wearing underneath snow pants but did not appear to have suffered any injuries and didn't ask for medical attention, the charges said.
Chuol was placed in leg restraints and taken to Anchorage Police Department headquarters for questioning, police said in a written statement Sunday. Police found scissors but don't believe they were used in the stabbing. A crime scene team arrived and used a metal detector to look for weapons, but didn't find a knife or other weapon.
Meanwhile, other officers descended on the alley behind Value Village, where medics were treating Duir. He was unconscious and had blood on his mouth and face, the charging document said.
Medics took Duir to Providence Alaska Medical Center. Police said he had suffered multiple stab wounds to his upper body and neck area. He died in the emergency room about 45 minutes after the stabbing, just before 8 p.m., police said
At police headquarters, Chuol told detectives that he and Duir were close friends.
"Chuol said he had purchased a bottle of liquor for Duir but became angry when Duir broke the bottle," the charging document said. "Chuol told detectives that he wanted to be forgiven for what he had done."
Anchorage police said Duir's death marks the city's 8th homicide of 2013.
Chuol was charged with first-degree and second-degree murder as well as tampering with physical evidence. He has a criminal record from Nebraska, including a 2009 felony robbery conviction and 2011 convictions for receiving stolen property, minor in possession of alcohol, resisting arrest and felony possession of a controlled substance, the Alaska charges say.
In the murder case, he is being held on $300,000 bail at the Anchorage jail.
At a jail court appearance Sunday afternoon, Chuol spoke almost too softly to be heard. He wore a yellow jailhouse uniform. His wrists were shackled. He clutched a copy of the charges against him.
Magistrate Judge Carmen Clark appointed a public defender.
Reach Lisa Demer at ldemer@adn.com or 257-4390.
By LISA DEMER