Crime & Courts

Prosecutors mull charges in Monday shooting at West Anchorage home

A decision on whether to criminally charge the man who shot two people, one of them fatally, during a Monday confrontation at his West Anchorage home likely won't come until at least next month, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Police have released few details about the incident on the 4300 block of Wisconsin Street, just off Spenard Road near Lake Spenard. According to officers, two men -- both known to the shooter -- had visited his home at 5:19 p.m. Monday, when he opened fire on them.

Medics took both victims to local hospitals, where one died after a few hours and the other remained in critical but stable condition Tuesday. Officers took the shooter into custody and spoke with him, but no charges had been filed in the case as of Tuesday morning.

Police spokeswoman Anita Shell said that nothing more on the case was available Wednesday morning.

"At this point in time, the detectives aren't saying anything further," Shell said.

Anchorage District Attorney Clint Campion declined to discuss the investigation Wednesday, emphasizing that it is still in progress. He said any decision on whether to issue charges in the case will take some time.

"It's my understanding, speaking with the prosecutors that are involved, that it's going to be a matter of weeks," Campion said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Campion said it wasn't yet clear whether the shooting was a case of self-defense.

"The autopsy report's not done; there's other investigative steps that need to be taken before that determination can be made," Campion said. "We're closely working with the police to figure out what happened and why it happened."

Investigators have asked anyone with information on the shooting to call police at 907-786-8900.

Chris Klint

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

ADVERTISEMENT