Crime & Justice

Grand jury hands up murder charge for man, 73, who claimed self-defense

A grand jury has indicted an Anchorage man on murder charges for allegedly shooting another man to death in Fairview on Oct. 20.

A lawyer for Johnie Jones, 73, had said earlier his client shot Sean Mulgrew, 36, in self-defense. Police said witnesses saw Mulgrew run out of an Ingra Street apartment before he collapsed in an alley bleeding.

Police found the body first and followed a blood trail to Jones's apartment, Deputy District Attorney Clint Campion said in a written statement Thursday.

Neighbors said the four-plex where Jones lived had become a hotbed for drug activity. But Jones said he was not involved in drugs and that Mulgrew knocked on his door and pointed a flare gun in his face, police said.

Officers arrested Jones after the shooting. On Thursday, a grand jury indicted him on charges of second-degree murder, weapons and drug misconduct, and evidence tampering.

Jones remained jailed Thursday and held on $100,000 cash-only bail. His next court appearance is set for Monday, Campion said.

Reach Casey Grove at casey.grove@adn.com or 257-4343.

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By CASEY GROVE

casey.grove@adn.com

Casey Grove

Casey Grove is a former reporter for the Anchorage Daily News. He left the ADN in 2014.

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