Crime & Courts

2nd suspect sought in 'targeted' shooting into Fairbanks home

Fairbanks police say they've identified the second of two suspects who opened fire on a home in a targeted attack as James Arthur Allen, whom officers have not yet apprehended.

Allen, 18, was indicted Friday by a grand jury on first- and second-degree weapons misconduct charges and two counts of assault, according to a Fairbanks Police Department release.

"A no bail arrest warrant has been issued for Allen, who is considered armed and dangerous," police said Tuesday.

Anyone with information about Allen's whereabouts or additional details about the shooting is asked to call Detective Peyton Merideth at 907-450-6553.

Police were called shortly before 7 p.m. Oct. 6 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. Officers found that gunfire had struck a residence multiple times but the two occupants were unharmed.

The Charger was found abandoned. Further investigation determined that two people were responsible for the shooting. A 20-year-old suspect, Christopher Ryan De La Merced Jr. of Fort Wainwright, was subsequently arrested and held without bail.

Police asked for the public's help in identifying the second alleged shooter a day after the shooting.

U.S. Army Alaska spokesman Lt. Col. Alan Brown said Allen is not a soldier.

Jerzy Shedlock

Jerzy Shedlock is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2017.

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