Anchorage Daily News

A former worker at a Petersburg storage business walked up to his ex-boss with a shotgun and pulled the trigger before turning the weapon on himself, Petersburg police said today.

Killed in the apparent murder-suicide were manager Helen Shear, 40, and the alleged gunman, Peter Baron, 44.

Shear at one point owned the business with her ex-husband, Guy Bartlett, who was not injured in the attack, Petersburg police chief Dale Stone said. The couple had gone out of state for a time and placed Baron in a managerial role, but they ended his employment this spring after returning, he said.

The motive for the attack was unclear, but police have ruled out a robbery or theft.

There did not appear to be any substantial relationship between the pair, Stone said.

"I believe their work relationship was a friendly basis, but there was no romantic relationship," Stone said.

The shootings took place in the parking lot of the business, B & G Heated Mini Storage, and an attached apartment at 300 Mitkof Highway at about 10:40 a.m. Friday, he said.

Shear, who divorced Bartlett in June, was still living in the apartment, Stone said. She was a well-liked and respected businesswoman in the town of 3,100 about 120 miles from Juneau, he said.

After just a few years in Petersburg, Baron, a relative newcomer, had established a reputation as a hard worker who mostly kept to himself, Stone said.

Friday morning, Baron walked up to Shear in the business's driveway and, according to witness accounts, pulled the 12-gauge shotgun on her, apparently without warning, Stone said.

After shooting Shear, Baron put the shotgun to his head and pulled the trigger, he said.

The state medical examiner conducted an autopsy on Shear and Baron, though Stone said he didn't have the results this afternoon. Alcohol or drugs did not appear to have been factors, he said.

Find James Halpin online at adn.com/contact/jhalpin or call him at 257-4589

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