Mat-Su

Children among 4 Mat-Su relatives fatally shot Monday; troopers say suspect will face charges

Four relatives were fatally shot early Monday morning at two homes in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska State Troopers said.

People inside a home in the area of Sylvan Lane and Hollywood Road, near Wasilla, called for help at 3:12 a.m. Monday after 18-year-old Cody Roehl of Wasilla had been shot, troopers said in an online statement. The witnesses provided a description of the shooter to troopers and said he had left in a white Jeep Patriot.

About a half hour later, multiple neighbors on North Valley Way in Palmer called police after hearing gunshots. When police arrived, officers found three people dead inside a home.

Troopers said 43-year-old Kimora Buster, 7-year-old Ellison Buster and 10-year-old Sienna Buster died. A juvenile in the house was left uninjured, troopers said.

Investigators determined the Busters were killed by the same person who shot Roehl, although troopers have not said what led them to make the connection.

At 4:07 a.m., troopers said they stopped a Jeep matching the witness descriptions near Mirror Lake on the Glenn Highway. Troopers said the man was taken into custody without incident.

Troopers have not identified the suspect, but said charges will be filed against him for the deaths of the four people.

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Troopers did not say Monday what may have motivated the shooting, but did note that everyone involved is related.

“It appears that all parties involved are known to each other and are relatives,” troopers wrote.

The investigation is ongoing and troopers did not provide additional details Monday afternoon.

Tess Williams

Tess Williams is a reporter focusing on breaking news and public safety. Before joining the ADN in 2019, she was a reporter for the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota. Contact her at twilliams@adn.com.

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