A suspect in the May shooting death of 23-year-old John Kavairlook Jr. was in Fairbanks court Tuesday for his arraignment after he was arrested in Texas in October.
Joel Roland Joseph, 26, faces a charge of first-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail. Joseph reportedly fled Alaska two days after the May 17 shooting, which took place at the Rock ‘n Rodeo bar.
On the night of the shooting, Kavairlook and another male were fighting inside the bar when they were escorted outside by security. Kavairlook’s wife, Shalene Kavairlook, also left the bar. The fight began again in the nearby Walgreens parking lot around 2:30 a.m., at which point three other males joined the fight.
Kavairlook’s wife said she was punched in the stomach and mouth by the men, according to court records. She then heard several shots and turned to find her husband lying on the ground. Surveillance footage obtained by Walgreens security showed the suspects ducking behind some vehicles and then firing shots at Kavairlook.
Eric Zeigler, a bouncer for the bar, said he went outside after hearing a call for help when the second fight began, and said he heard Joseph yell “bust em” just before the shots rang out, court records show.
Fairbanks police found 13 shell casings at the scene, and several bullets were found inside the store, having been fired through the windows. Images from the Walgreens surveillance footage were distributed to the public in an attempt to identify the four suspects.
On the day of the shooting, David Joseph, Joseph’s brother, reported a stolen Glock 19 9mm pistol, which he said was missing from his garage. He stated he had shown the gun to his brother and his brother’s friend, but he didn’t believe his brother had stolen it. However, cell phone records revealed the brothers had spoken between the time of the shooting and when the gun was reported stolen.
The gun was later turned in after being found in a lake behind the Wedgewood Resort by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee and a group of students. The investigation revealed the group of suspects stayed at the resort until the night of the shooting. Demarius Hinson, one of the shooting suspects, arranged with hotel staff for left behind items to be shipped to Anchorage.
U.S. Marshals and detectives with the New Braunfels Police Department arrested Joseph in Selma, Texas on Oct. 27.
Hinson was arrested on Oct. 28 in Orlando, Fla., and charged with first-degree hindering prosecution. Fairbanks police said he fled the country after the homicide and then returned to the U.S.
Joseph’s brother was arrested in Anchorage and indicted on a single count of first-degree hindering prosecution.
Two other suspects involved in the shooting have yet to be identified by law enforcement.
