2 shot during ‘altercation’ in vehicle at Midtown Anchorage intersection, police say

Update 8 a.m. Tuesday: Suspect Joseph M. Perkins, 22, was charged with two counts of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest, police said Tuesday. He was remanded at the Anchorage Correctional Complex.

Original story:

Two people were shot and wounded during an incident that unfolded inside a Jeep stopped at a Midtown Anchorage intersection Monday afternoon, police said.

A group of people were inside the Jeep when it stopped at a red light on the intersection of Old Seward Highway and Tudor Road just before 2 p.m., police wrote.

“Some type of altercation took place inside the vehicle during which an adult male fired a handgun,” police wrote. “An adult male and adult female inside the Jeep were both hit. A young juvenile in the vehicle was not injured.”

The injured man and woman were taken to the hospital and police said their injuries were not believed to be life threatening.

After the shooting, police said the suspect fled on foot. He punched a pedestrian in the face near the 900 block of East 45th Court and continued to run, authorities said. It was not clear why he punched the man or if they knew one another, according to the statement.

The man was taken into custody near the intersection of East 46th Court and Ingra Street, police said. Charges were not immediately filed and police said the investigation was ongoing.

The intersection surrounding the shooting closed after, but police said nearly all lanes had reopened about an hour later.