Crime & Justice

One injured in early morning shooting in downtown Anchorage

A man was injured in a shooting on a downtown sidewalk early Sunday, Anchorage police said.

Police arrived at 420 W. Third Ave. at 2:12 a.m. after a call reporting a gunshot, Anchorage Police Department spokeswoman Anita Shell said Sunday.

"It sounds like there were several people outside on the sidewalk," she said. "A shot rang out and one person was struck in the torso."

The man was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries that appeared to be non-life threatening, she said.

"Multiple people were in the area at the time of the shooting, but no suspect information is available at this time," police said in a release. The victim also hadn't been identified Sunday night.

TJ Carmen, co-owner of the downtown nightclub PlayHouse, said the shooting actually happened on Fourth Avenue, between C and D streets.

Patrons of downtown bars mass on the sidewalks at "bar break," when establishments stop serving alcohol on weekend nights, he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

The crowds can become volatile: In November, police to donned riot gear to clear the intersection of Fourth Avenue and D Street when an "unsanctioned street party" broke out after bars closed.

Carmen said his bar and others were taking measures to combat what he called the "after hours lingering crowd."

ADVERTISEMENT