A jury on Monday convicted a man with a history of assault for shooting a passerby who took notice of his idling vehicle in East Anchorage, according to prosecutors.
Jesse Kern, 33, was found guilty of first-degree assault and tampering with evidence after a five-day trial, according to the Anchorage District Attorney's Office.
Assistant District Attorney Laura Dulic, who prosecuted Kern, presented testimony showing Kern started an argument with a man walking by the vehicle on Jan. 21. The two men exchanged words before Kern declared, "I will just shoot you," according to the charges.
Kern was carrying a revolver during the argument; the passerby wasn't armed, prosecutors said.
When Kern brandished the gun, the shooting victim tried unsuccessfully to knock it out of Kern's hand and was shot in the the groin, the charges say.
The injured man left and called police. He was eventually taken to Providence Alaska Medical Center for treatment, the charges say. Kern ran into his house and hid the revolver, the basis for the evidence tampering charge; he also called 911, prosecutors said.
Officers initially didn't find the gun, which Kern hid in a metal tube under a furnace. Kern told police he lied because he was scared. Kern also said he was on his property when the shooting victim attacked him, the charges say.
Prosecutors noted Kern's lengthy criminal history in a news release after his conviction. He has 11 misdemeanor convictions in Alaska and two prior felony assault convictions. He faces seven to 11 years in prison for his newest felony conviction, they said.
Sentencing is set for March 18.