A Barrow man stands accused of bringing deadly force to bear this week against an acquaintance who loaned him money and wanted it back, according to charging documents.
William B. Edwardsen, 21, faces one count of first-degree attempted murder as well as two counts each of third-degree assault and fourth-degree misconduct involving weapons.
A criminal complaint requesting a warrant for Edwardsen's arrest, filed by North Slope Borough Police Sgt. Nathan McBride, said officers responded to reports of gunfire from the victim at about 3:10 a.m. Wednesday. There wasn't any indication in McBride's account that the victim had been injured.
The victim told police the incident occurred on Uula Street, where he had been riding a bicycle when he saw Edwardsen. When the victim asked Edwardsen to repay a $100 debt, he said, Edwardsen responded by throwing a knife at him then running into a house on Uula Street.
"(The victim said) that he attempted to flee on his bicycle and then heard a gunshot," McBride wrote. "The victim stated he turned around again and saw the defendant run back into the house carrying a rifle."
McBride said a witness told police she had heard a gunshot before seeing Edwardsen, whom she recognized, holding a "long rifle" and stepping back into the home where he and his parents lived.
Court records listed an arraignment for Edwardsen in Barrow court, scheduled for Thursday afternoon.