A deadly confrontation unfolded Wednesday evening after a car dispute in Anchorage, leaving one man dead and another behind bars. Anchorage police said they responded to a disturbance involving gunfire around 5 pm in a neighborhood near East 66th Avenue.
Officers found a man on the scene suffering from severe upper body trauma, later confirmed to be a gunshot wound. Medics transported the injured man to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries shortly after arrival, according to the police reports.
Authorities identified the alleged shooter as 24-year-old Mykal Nelson and charged him with both first-degree and second-degree murder. According to charging documents, multiple 911 callers reported seeing a man trying to kick out a car window before shots rang out.
Investigators say the confrontation began when the victims walked past a vehicle that Nelson and others were sitting in. The victim bent down to look at the license plate, which led to a verbal exchange with those inside the car.
The argument escalated when the victim started kicking the car’s rear passenger window, eventually breaking it with repeated strikes. Nelson allegedly stepped out of the car and asked another person to retrieve his gun from a nearby apartment.
That individual entered Nelson’s apartment and told a woman to get the firearm as a fight broke out near the vehicle. Once armed, Nelson reportedly chased the victim, who attempted to flee on foot down the roadway.
Witnesses say Nelson fired multiple shots at the man, including at least one shot from a close range. Authorities transported several witnesses to police headquarters for questioning shortly after the incident.
According to the police, there is no ongoing threat, but they have asked people to be vigilant and come forward with any information that they might have to help the case. Police also stated that tips could be left anonymously.
