A man is facing multiple charges of second-degree murder after another man was found dead on Benson Boulevard in Midtown Anchorage early Monday, police said.
Martin Kignak, 25, was seen by patrol officers assaulting the victim, according to an Anchorage Police Department alert. He was taken into custody for questioning after the incident.
The victim, whose name has not yet been released pending next-of-kin notification, was pronounced dead at the scene on Benson between A and Denali streets, according to a 2:30 a.m. police alert.
Patrol officers spotted a man “behaving suspiciously” who appeared to be kicking something, police spokeswoman Kendra Doshier said in an email Monday afternoon. Upon investigation, police discovered that what he appeared to be kicking was the victim, she said.
The assault “appears to have occurred on the sidewalk,” Doshier said. The victim’s body was found lying in the road, police said in the early-morning alert.
Benson was closed for several hours as police investigated, and was reopened at about 7:30 a.m. Police were still working on next-of-kin notification procedures as of Monday afternoon.
Police asked that anyone with surveillance video of the area call dispatch at 311.
This was the 11th homicide in Anchorage in 2019, police said.