A man died in Willow on Monday night after being shot by another man confronting him over a fight with a family member, charging documents say.
John Sibole, 49, was pronounced dead at the home following the report of the shooting at about 9:15 p.m., Alaska State Troopers said. Troopers said they arrested 31-year-old Jared Higgins.
The shooting occurred on North McKinley Way, which is near the Willow Townsite Food Mart along the Parks Highway.
Sibole came to the house Monday evening after Higgins got into an argument with Sibole’s family member, according to a sworn affidavit filed with charges by troopers Inv. Craig Markiewicz.
Earlier Monday, the woman came to the house, where Higgins lived, to help clean and haul firewood, the affidavit said. The two got into a fight after the woman asked Higgins to help and he refused, it said.
She later told troopers that Higgins shoved her and she pushed him back and left with several children, according to the affidavit.
Sibole came to the house Monday night to talk to Higgins about what happened, the affidavit said. Higgins told troopers that Sibole hit him on the side of the face multiple times, so he shot him in the abdomen, it said.
Higgins said he called 911 and came out with the gun pointed down, the affidavit said, but the woman and other adults said he pointed the weapon at them as they performed CPR on Sibole.
Audio from 911 calls included the sound of three adults yelling at Higgins to “stop pointing his firearm at them,” Markiewicz wrote. Troopers observed minor injuries on Higgins’ ear and face, he said.
He was arrested on charges of second-degree murder and three counts of third-degree assault.
Higgins remained jailed at Mat-Su Pretrial Facility as of Tuesday. His first court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.