Crime & Courts

$10 bet leads to assault, attempted murder charges in Anchorage

Two men were arrested late Sunday night in Anchorage after one man allegedly attempted to shoot his roommate over an unpaid bet, according to police.

Police said they received a call around 11:30 p.m. from the 19-year-old victim, who told 911 dispatchers that his roommate, 25-year-old James Smith, had tried to kill him.

The victim alleged that the three roommates had made a $10 bet about whether or not a nearby Carrs grocery store would be open, Anchorage Police spokesperson Anita Shell said Monday. The victim had bet the store would be closed. The three men then walked to the store and found it open. The victim then reportedly refused to pay up.

Upon returning to their trailer, located on South Hoyt Street, the men began to argue over the unpaid bet. The argument escalated, and Smith allegedly pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the victim's head, and pulled the trigger -- but the loaded gun malfunctioned, and didn't fire.

Police said the victim and Smith then struggled over the gun, and at some point during the altercation, the third roommate, 23-year-old Kendrick Mathews, punched the victim.

The 19-year-old was then able to gain control of the gun and ran for the door. Smith reportedly chased the victim as he ran from the trailer and hit him with a metal handle from a floor jack. The victim escaped, ran to a nearby convenience store and called police. The victim didn't require a trip to the hospital, Shell said.

Officers arrested Smith and Mathews and charged both of them with assault. Smith was also charged with attempted murder. The men were taken to the Anchorage jail. Smith is being held without bail; Mathews' bail was set at $15,000 plus a court-approved third party.

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Drugs and alcohol are not suspected to have played a role in the incident, Shell said.

Contact Laurel Andrews at laurel(at)alaskadispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter @Laurel_Andrews

Correction: An earlier version of this article mistakenly stated the arrests took place in the Mountain View neighborhood. The story has been updated to correct that error.

Laurel Andrews

Laurel Andrews was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch News and Alaska Dispatch. She left the ADN in October 2018.

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