Crime & Justice

Troopers: Crooked Creek man charged with attempted murder after knife attack, shooting

A Crooked Creek man faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, after attacking two people with knives Wednesday, then shooting at a group that included children, Alaska State Troopers said.

Troopers said 30-year-old Moses A. John attacked a pair of adults in the Western Alaska village on the Kuskokwim River with knives. Then about an hour later, at 5:16 p.m., troopers said, they received a report that John was shooting at a group of people on the riverbank that included the adults he'd attacked earlier as well as another adult and three children.

Troopers said they found that John was firing at the group with a .30-30 rifle, and that he told officers "he was attempting to kill one of the adults whom he had attempted to assault with the knives earlier."

John knew at least one of the victims, said troopers public information officer Megan Peters.

"Small community," Peters said of Crooked Creek, which only about 100 people call home.

No one was harmed during the assaults, Peters said. John's knife struck a person's vest and tore a hole, she said.

John was under the influence of alcohol during both incidents, troopers said. Peters declined to comment on his motive, saying those details would come out in court proceedings.

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He was arrested without further incident and taken to Bethel, where he was held without bail.

He faces charges of first-degree attempted murder, as well as three counts of third-degree assault, three counts of reckless endangerment and misconduct involving a weapon.

At an initial court appearance at the Bethel Courthouse, a public defender was appointed to represent John, according to online court records.

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