Crime & Justice

Soldier held, 2nd suspect sought in shots fired on Fairbanks home

Fairbanks police Wednesday were asking for the public's help in finding the second of two suspects who allegedly opened fire on a residence in what police were calling a targeted attack by a Fort Wainwright soldier.

Police were called shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday to Droz Drive, off the Steese Highway south of the Johansen Expressway. Witnesses told arriving officers they had seen a black Dodge Charger being driven away from the scene.

"A single residence appears to have been targeted and was struck by gunfire, with multiple rounds penetrating the structure," police wrote. "The residence was occupied by two subjects; however, neither was hit by gunfire or injured during the shooting."

Police subsequently found the Charger abandoned and determined through further investigation that two people had opened fire on the residence. A 20-year-old suspect, Fort Wainwright man Christopher Ryan De La Merced Jr., was subsequently arrested and held without bail at the Fairbanks Correctional Center on "multiple counts of assault and weapons misconduct."

Fairbanks police officer Doug Welborn said in an email Wednesday afternoon that few additional details on the incident were immediately available for release.

"The identity of the second shooter or his potential military affiliation is not known at this time," Welborn wrote. "Motive at this time is not known but is being investigated."

U.S. Army Alaska spokesman Lt. Col. Alan Brown confirmed Wednesday that De La Merced was a private at Fort Wainwright, who served as a cavalry scout in the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

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"His last day in the Army is today," Brown said. "He was in the process of being administratively separated in connection with a previous incident."

Brown declined to discuss the nature of that previous incident, but said the Army is cooperating with Fairbanks police in their investigation of the drive-by.

Police are asking anyone with work on the second shooter's identity or whereabouts to call Detective Peyton Merideth at 907-450-6553.

Chris Klint

Chris Klint is a former ADN reporter who covered breaking news.

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