Anchorage police responded to multiple incidents early Sunday morning, including an unruly street party and two isolated shootings.
Downtown street party
The first occurred at around 2:30 a.m., according to a release from the Anchorage Police Department. Police responded to a call that shots had been fired in the downtown area. Officers discovered a crowd of about 200 people at an “unsanctioned street party” at Fourth Avenue and D Street.
A Cadillac Escalade was parked in the area, police say, and officers told the vehicle’s owner to turn off the music. The crowd then became unruly toward police, causing the need for more APD officers, along with other law enforcement departments to assist in disbursing the crowd.
When officers told the vehicle owner to turn off the music, the crowd became unruly toward police. About 22 officers from APD responded as well as officers from the University Police Department and Airport Police Department to assist in clearing the streets. Officers armed themselves with riot gear, says APD spokeswoman Anita Shell.
“We have had incidences where officers have needed to have a line or formation, if you will, with their riot gear for their own protection and disperse a crowd,” said Shell, adding that it took about an hour to clear the scene. “It does not happen very often, but on rare occasions, it does happen.”
Shell says most of the partygoers left the area as directed, but two individuals who police say refused to cooperate were charged with failing to disperse and disorderly conduct.
University Area shooting
At around 4 a.m., police responded to calls that multiple shots had been fired in the University Area. When APD responded, they discovered that two homes, located about a block from each other, were struck by gunfire.
Police are reporting no injuries in the shooting but say there was damage done to both homes, one located at the 3800 block of Gardner Street and the other located at the 5200 block of Sharon Street (shown above).
One neighbor, Adrian Battle, says he came out of his Sharon Street residence to find that multiple vehicles were also hit by bullets at the residence next to his.
“A whole bunch of gunshots and a whole bunch of banging, pretty much, and glass breaking is all we heard this morning,” he said. “The first thing I thought about was my son, make sure he’s ok.”
Battle, who’s lived in the neighborhood about seven months, says it’s usually quiet and incidents like Sunday morning’s shooting aren’t frequent.
Spenard house party shooting
Minutes after the University area shooting, at around 4:07 a.m., police responded to another call that shots had been fired in the area of Wyoming Drive and Oregon Drive.
When police responded to the disturbance call, they discovered about two dozen teens at a house party. Police say the suspected shooters had already fled the scene and their whereabouts are unknown at this time.
Officers issued numerous citations to teens for underage consumption and arrested two individuals.
“Pool of blood” at Sixth Avenue Chevron
At around 4:30 a.m., APD received a call from someone saying they found blood, broken glass and shell casings in the alley behind the Chevron gas station, located at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Ingra Street.
When officers responded, they found a “pool of blood” but no victim, APD says.
“Somebody was injured back there last night,” Shell said, based on the findings.
Patient with possible gunshot wound
About 40 minutes after APD responded to the gas station on Sixth Avenue, a man showed up to a local hospital with what police suspect is a gunshot would to the hand.
The man, however, says the injury was from a nail gun, according to APD.
“Officers believe it’s actually that he was the victim of a shooting and that wound is actually a gunshot wound,” Shell said. “We don’t believe he was truthful to the police and that for whatever reason, he did not want to tell us what actually happened.”
Shell says it is unknown if the man may have been a victim of one of the earlier shootings or if this was a separate, unreported incident. His injuries are not life threatening, APD says.
Police are encouraging anyone with information on these incidents to call APD at 786-8900 or Crime Stoppers at 561-STOP.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.