Alaska News

Shootings prompt emergency precautions at Anchorage schools

Anchorage police asked for help Tuesday to find suspects involved in two shootings that prompted four schools to lock their doors and go into emergency security modes.

Around 2:30 p.m., a 911 caller reported shots fired in Mountain View near the 3400 block of Peterkin Avenue, Jennifer Castro, spokeswoman for the Anchorage Police Department, said in a news release. Police officers responded and found shell casings, she said.

It was reported to police that three young men were in a white 2000 Chevrolet Malibu and one of them shot at the building. The car's license plate was ESZ305. They fled the scene, Castro said.

Meanwhile, Tyson Elementary School and Mountain View Elementary School went into "stay put" status. All students and staff were brought inside. Staff locked all doors and windows, said Heidi Embley, Anchorage School District spokeswoman.

Another 911 caller reported less than an hour later that someone had shot at their car near East Fifth Avenue and Pauline Street in East Anchorage. The caller said a white sedan had headed in the direction of Muldoon Elementary School, Castro said.

As officers responded, Muldoon Elementary went into lockdown, Embley said. All students and staff were brought inside and took cover away from windows and doors. Begich Middle School also went into "stay put" status.

About 20 minutes later, police had cleared the area, Castro said. Castro said there were no injuries reported in either incident Tuesday. Embley said all security modes were lifted by late afternoon.

Castro asked anyone with any information on the three suspects or white sedan to call police at 907-786-8900 or Crime Stoppers at 907-561-7867 to give an anonymous tip.

Tegan Hanlon

Tegan Hanlon was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News between 2013 and 2019. She now reports for Alaska Public Media.

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