Man sought in shooting death of his stepfather in Fairbanks

Fairbanks police on Monday said the man suspected in a killing last week, now described as a shooting, is the victim's stepson. They asked the public for information on his whereabouts but warned that he is "armed and dangerous."

Police distributed photos of 29-year-old Joseph Vance Arabie, sought in the death of Carlos Alberto Zuniga. Officers responding to reports of shots fired found Zuniga, 47, in an apartment on Bunnell Street late Thursday; he died at the scene.

Fairbanks police spokeswoman Yumi McCulloch said Monday that Zuniga's body was found in a second-floor apartment at a six-plex. She said Arabie didn't live at that residence.

Court records Monday showed Arabie wanted on one count of first-degree murder in the case, which was listed as a crime of domestic violence.

According to a criminal complaint against Arabie written by Fairbanks police Detective Scott Adams, family members at the apartment said Arabie shot Zuniga after an argument. Zuniga's body was found with several gunshot wounds, including one to his right forearm.

"This wound is consistent with a 'defensive wound' as the victim put his arm in front of him to protect himself," Adams wrote.

Members of the public should not approach Arabie, whom police described as an Alaska Native standing 6 feet, 1 inches tall and weighing about 185 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Police said Monday afternoon that they had an arrest warrant for Arabie, who was last seen Sunday evening in South Fairbanks.

Arabie's Fairbanks felony criminal record includes no-contest pleas to and convictions for burglary in two 2007 cases. He was also charged with felony assault and kidnapping in 2009 but ultimately pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault count.

Anyone with information on Arabie's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or report other information on him to police at 907-459-6800.