Crime & Courts

Shooting suspect arrested after police chase, manhunt in Anchorage

A 21-year-old man was arrested by Anchorage police early Saturday afternoon after a 16-hour manhunt that prompted the shutdown of part of the Mountain View neighborhood.

Christian Beier faces charges of attempted murder, assault, weapons misconduct and burglary, police said in a statement Saturday afternoon. He was taken into custody after being bitten by a police dog.

The shooting, described by police as a domestic violence crime, was reported at about 7:11 p.m. Friday on the western edge of downtown Anchorage, near Fifth Avenue and N Street.

Two people, a 19-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy, were taken to Providence Alaska Medical Center with gunshot wounds, and the hospital went into lockdown for an hour and a half.

The woman was shot in the head; the boy was shot multiple times in the head and upper torso, according to Anchorage police spokeswoman Renee Oistad. Neither victim has been publicly identified, but police said Beier apparently knew both of them.

On Facebook, someone claiming to be Beier posted at 3:58 a.m. Saturday, describing the shooting and saying the male victim "got what he deserved."

"That's what happens to people that (mess) around with the girl I'm with behind my back," the post said. "They catch bullets."

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The post also said: "Im (sic) a wanted fugitive and a felon now. Oh well! If they want me come and get me."

The person using the account also shared a link to a media story about the manhunt.

Oistad said police detectives had copies of the Facebook posts as part of the case file. She said the victims are not being identified because the case is being classified as domestic violence.

Reached briefly by phone Saturday, Beier's father, John Beier, said the Facebook account belonged to Christian. He said his son, a South Anchorage High School graduate, was angry at his best friend.

"He totally did the wrong thing," John Beier said of his son. He said Christian worked in the family's South Anchorage auto repair business, Beier's Auto, and also did his own automotive work.

Just before his son was taken into custody, John Beier went onto Christian's Facebook page and wrote a message that pleaded with him to turn himself in. The message read, in part: "I beg you Son, I dont (sic) want you to die or anyone else to get hurt!"

"I'm sure he'll end up in prison," John Beier said, sounding emotional. He added: "He should not have been carrying a gun."

A warrant was issued for Christian Beier's arrest early Saturday morning. At about 8 a.m., police were told that Beier was in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Oistad wrote in a statement. As an Anchorage police SWAT team headed that direction, the Alaska State Troopers reported they were following Beier south on the Glenn Highway near Chugiak, Oistad said.

The police SWAT team joined in the pursuit near Eagle River, Oistad said. When the chase reached Mountain View near Lion's Park, Beier abandoned his vehicle and ran into the woods with "at least one firearm," Oistad said.

Police quickly formed a perimeter around the area, Oistad said. In a Saturday morning alert, police said they had closed off Mountain View near McPhee and Pine streets to search for the shooting suspect, who was described as dressed in all black and "very dangerous."

At 12:49 p.m., after ignoring police commands and being bitten by a police dog named Alex, Beier was taken into custody, Oistad said.

Friday's shooting occurred in a house owned by former Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell. Treadwell said in a phone interview late Friday that the house, on the 500 block of N street, was being rented out.

The woman who was shot was spotted Friday evening walking down the street from the house, according to Oistad. She looked disheveled and appeared to be injured, Oistad said. A citizen who spotted her put her in their car and called 911, and police eventually determined she had been shot.

Officers then walked up to the house on the 500 block of N Street and announced their presence, Oistad said. The 17-year-old boy came to the door, then collapsed.

Police found the boy had multiple gunshot wounds to his upper torso and head. Both of the victims were taken to the hospital, and their conditions weren't immediately known Saturday. No one else was found inside the home after a thorough search by police, Oistad said.

The effort to arrest Beier also involved security at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and an Alaska State Troopers helicopter, Oistad said. The FBI was also involved, though Oistad did not have details on their involvement.

Beier is being held without bail at the Anchorage jail. One week ago, Beier pleaded guilty in Anchorage court to a misdemeanor drug charge and was ordered to pay a $500 fine, records show.

Devin Kelly

Devin Kelly was an ADN staff reporter.

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