Alaska News

Update: Name of Pilot Station boy fatally shot with pellet gun released

Update 8:45 a.m. Oct. 2: Alaska State Troopers have identified the deceased 9-year-old boy as Spency Polty of Pilot Station. His next of kin have been notified.

Original Story: A 9-year-old boy was shot by another 9-year-old boy and subsequently died of his injuries on Friday afternoon in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta village of Pilot Station, Alaska State Troopers reported on Sunday.

The boy suffered a chest wound from a high-powered, .17 caliber pellet rifle, which was shot by the other boy while the two were having an argument. He was taken to the Pilot Station Health Clinic, where CPR was performed, but he succumbed to his injuries, troopers reported.

Trooper spokesperson Tim DeSpain said that this is "pretty unusual" and stressed the "sensitive" nature of the case. He also noted that even though the shooting occurred during an argument, it may still have been accidental; it will take some time to determine what happened.

The names of the boys have not been released. DeSpain expects more information will be released later in the week, pending the ongoing investigation.

Pilot Station is on the northwest bank of the Yukon, in the southwest Y-K Delta about 450 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. The village has a population of around 600 people.

Craig Medred

Craig Medred is a former writer for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2015.

ADVERTISEMENT