A 20-year-old man has died following a shooting inside the Walmart Supercenter in Midtown Anchorage on Monday afternoon, according to the Anchorage Police Department (APD).
Police identified the victim as Julius Reape and confirmed that his next of kin have been notified. Officers responded to reports of gunfire just before 2 p.m. at the store located on A Street near Benson Boulevard.
According to investigators, two men who knew each other were involved in a verbal exchange near the store’s entrance before one of them fired multiple shots. Reape was struck in the upper body and transported to the hospital, where he died while undergoing surgery.
Detectives recovered a handgun from Reape’s jacket pocket at the scene. Police say they have interviewed the suspected shooter and multiple witnesses but have not released the suspect’s name.
As of Tuesday afternoon, no charges had been filed, though APD reported that all individuals connected to the incident have been identified and contacted.
Walmart officials declined to comment, directing all inquiries to law enforcement.
The store temporarily closed following the incident but has since reopened. Police continue to investigate what led to the confrontation.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Anchorage Police Department at (907) 786-8900 or submit an anonymous tip through Anchorage Crime Stoppers.
News Source: Anchorage Police Department
