Detectives in Fairbanks witnessed an attempted murder Tuesday afternoon while conducting an investigation at a building where a man is accused of killing his stepfather two weeks ago, Fairbanks police reported Wednesday.
Around 3:30 p.m., detectives watched as a pickup pulled up to the residence at 1215 Bunnell St. and a man got out, according to an account from Fairbanks Police Department spokesperson Yumi McCulloch.
The man "confronted the victim" and threatened him with a handgun that "ultimately discharged," the statement said, though no one was hurt in the shooting. Then the man got back in the truck and sped off, police said.
Police and Alaska State Troopers chased the truck but lost sight of it near Chena Hot Springs Road between the Steese Highway and Bias Drive, the statement said.
When they caught up to it a short time later, the suspect seen with the gun was gone. Police arrested Shae-Lyn Nichole Probert, 21 — who they say had taken over driving the car — on charges of hindering prosecution. Another person in the vehicle was released.
About five hours later, at 8:20 p.m., the suspect, 38-year-old Vincent Nelson, was spotted in woods around Birch Hill Road and Shenandoah Drive but ran again, police said.
He was ultimately arrested about a half-hour later near the Old Steese Highway and Farmers Loop Road. He was arrested and charged with attempted murder and failure to stop at the direction of a police officer.