'None of us saw this coming': Mystery surrounds whereabouts of 'distraught' man who caused highway closure

Law enforcement officers found a handgun and ammunition but not the "distraught" man they say fired shots and threatened a person at the Beluga Point pullout on the Seward Highway late Wednesday, leading to a road closure that lasted more than 12 hours.

Officials on Thursday identified the suspect as 36-year-old Kevin Thibodeau of Anchorage. Members of the Alaska Bureau of Investigation were asking for the public's help finding Thibodeau, while also conducting their own search efforts in and around Beluga Point and Turnagain Arm.

"Our search efforts for Thibodeau are ongoing in the area, to include the waters of the inlet," Capt. Tony April, commander of the ABI, said in a dispatch Thursday. "If anyone has information regarding the whereabouts of Thibodeau they are advised to call 911. If you see him, do not attempt to contact him on your own."

Thibodeau is originally from Texas and is former military, according to his sister Rachel Garcia. He'd been stationed with the U.S. Army in Anchorage several years ago, and moved back to Alaska with his family around August, planning to put down roots in his wife's home state, Garcia said in a phone interview Thursday.

Thibodeau's LinkedIn page and Garcia said he had been working for Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp. as its communications director since last year.

"None of us saw this coming," she said.

Family and friends who spoke with Thibodeau about a week ago heard nothing out of the ordinary, Garcia said from Texas.

"He's always been of sound mind. Even when he came back from his tours," Garcia said. "He's a very thoughtful person and family man. … We're just praying he comes home."

SWAT callout

Troopers from Seward and officers with the Anchorage Police Department responded to reports of an armed suspect near Beluga Point shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday, troopers said in a dispatch.

"While near the Beluga Point pull out, the subject fired off a handgun," troopers wrote.

Once responding officers heard gunfire, they requested backup from APD's SWAT team, which set up a perimeter around Beluga Point and ordered the road closure. The highway was closed due to its proximity to the search area, Anchorage police Lt. Kevin Vandegriff said.

The highway was reopened around 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

By 11 a.m., only a few APD and trooper investigators remained at the scene. A trooper was examining a silver Chevrolet Silverado pickup, which had its front driver's-side window shattered out.

Vandegriff, head of the department's special-operations unit, said the pickup was left behind by Thibodeau.

"He was firing the gun and then pointed the gun at a person here in the parking lot and demanded that they leave, which they did," Vandegriff said.

As night fell, members of the troopers' Special Emergency Reaction Team and a tactical vehicle were called to the scene. No immediate search of the point, separated from the parking area by Alaska Railroad tracks, was ordered.

"We knew citizens were safe and there was no need to risk officers' safety; we just contained the area," Vandegriff said.

At first light Thursday, troopers sent a helicopter to look for the suspect. Neither the aerial search nor a K-9 ground search found him but police did discover a handgun and some rounds on the far side of the point near the shoreline.

At that point, Vandegriff said, officers believed the area was secure and reopened the highway.

"As soon as this area was cleared, we realized he was not here and he was not with the firearm," Vandegriff said. "We know who he is — he had prior contact with law enforcement earlier in the day."

Vandegriff declined to discuss the nature of Thibodeau's previous law-enforcement encounter. April, the ABI commander, said the firearm would be analyzed to confirm if it was connected to the incident.

'We're so confused'

Troopers said Thibodeau is now wanted on an arrest warrant, obtained during the standoff, for third-degree assault and two counts of misconduct involving weapons.

Garcia, Thibodeau's sister, said she doesn't believe her brother would ever harm anyone at random.

"We're so confused as to what happened out there," she said.

Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters didn't have immediate word on whether police or troopers had contact with Thibodeau overnight, or if investigators believe he may have gone into the water off the point.

"Obviously there are many possibilities and there are many options as to what has transpired, and we're investigating them," Peters said. "Right now he's unaccounted for."

Troopers asked that anyone with information regarding Thibodeau's whereabouts contact them at 907-262-4453 or APD at 907-786-8900.

School bus service between Girdwood and Anchorage was canceled due to the overnight road closure.

Sitting in line at the blocked road Thursday morning, Bird Creek resident Yvonne Pitzer said she was stopped at 9 p.m. Wednesday as she was headed home from Anchorage. She slept overnight in her SUV and hadn't heard anything about the standoff, which far exceeded previous highway closures she's experienced.

"One or two hours at the max — this is the longest I've ever had to wait," Pitzer said. "This is the longest I've seen, and the most manpower."