Authorities have charged a 26-year-old man with first-degree murder following the Thursday shooting of his cabin mate in Circle, Alaska. The Circle Alaska murder case has shaken the small community located 155 miles northeast of Fairbanks.
Court documents identify Jerek Boyle as the suspect accused of fatally shooting 48-year-old James Gelvin. Alaska State Troopers allege Boyle fired from inside their shared cabin, hitting Gelvin through the front door.
Investigators discovered Gelvin’s body on the porch during their initial response. The charging documents detail a tense day leading up to the shooting. Boyles’s aunt and father reportedly told the investigators that Gelvin had argued with his cabin mate and issued vague threats earlier that day.
Boyles’s father advised him to lock Gelvin out of the cabin despite frigid temperatures plunging to 50 degrees below zero. The investigation suggests that Boyle acted after the situation escalated inside the cabin. Troopers allege that he chose to fire through the door, ultimately causing Gelvin’s death.
Specific details about the threats Gelvin allegedly made remain unclear. Following the shooting, troopers arrested Boyle and transported him to the Fairbanks Correctional Center. A judge set his bail at $500,000 during his initial court appearance.
Boyles’ next court hearing will take place on January 13th, during which legal teams are expected to present evidence and arguments. The Circle Alaska murder case has drawn attention to the unique challenges of law enforcement and conflict resolution in remote Alaska.
This news article was originally published by Alaska Public Media.
