Man charged with murder in Anchorage gas station shooting

A 23-year-old man has been charged with murder in the shooting death of another man at a South Anchorage gas station Wednesday evening.

Police spokeswoman Jennifer Castro said in a statement Thursday morning that Andrew Robertson-Goughnour faces counts of first- and second-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Brandon Merritt at a Holiday station on the 1500 block of Abbott Road.

Police were informed at about 9 p.m. of the shooting, which occurred during a dispute between Merritt — a passenger in a white sedan — and Robertson-Goughnour.

"As the white sedan was getting ready to leave the parking lot, Goughnour (who was pumping gas at the gas station) and Merritt got into a verbal altercation," Castro wrote. "Merritt got out of the vehicle and as he was approaching Goughnour, Goughnour produced a firearm and shot Merritt once."

In an email Thursday morning, Castro said Merritt and Robertson-Goughnour's deadly encounter "was the first time they had ever seen each other."

Robertson-Goughnour told police that "Merritt was 'staring him down' prior to the verbal altercation," Castro wrote. 

There was no apparent connection between the shooting and drugs or gangs, Castro said.

Police said Merritt died at the scene Wednesday evening.

Robertson-Goughnour remained at the scene. After being questioned by police, he was taken to the Anchorage Correctional Complex, where he was held without bail.

Merritt's next of kin have been notified.