16-year-old charged with murder in shooting deaths of 2 adults in Point Hope

Two people died and two were severely wounded in a shooting late Sunday in the North Slope village of Point Hope, according to charges filed Monday.

A 16-year-old boy was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in the first degree.

Borough officials said in a statement Monday morning: “The matter is still under investigation but we want to assure the public that there is NO ONGOING RISK to community safety. This was an isolated incident and the suspect is currently in custody.”

The incident sent waves of grief through the community of more than 800 people and neighboring villages. Multiple residents of Point Hope described the shooting in interviews and social media posts and expressed their support for the families involved.

Tikigaq School officials posted on Facebook that classes were canceled Monday “due to the tragedy in our community.” Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said on social media that he and his wife, Rose, “are devastated by the tragic shooting that occurred in Point Hope. Our hearts ache for the families and residents affected by this senseless act. We will continue to pray for healing and justice.”

The North Slope Borough Police Department responded to the shooting after 11:30 p.m. Sunday at a home in the western part of the village, according to a summary of a police report included in the charging documents filed in Kotzebue. Officers found a woman and a man dead and two men wounded, and all appeared to have been shot, the summary said.

A witness told police she saw the boy entering the home and opening fire while others told police they saw him leave the scene with a handgun, the summary said.

Around 11:45 p.m., the teen and his father arrived at the police station, the summary said. The boy, who was informed of his rights and interviewed by police while accompanied by his parents, said he shot the four adults, according to the summary.

Minors who are 16 or older and charged with a high-level felony, such as murder, may be waived into adult court, per state law.

The defendant on Tuesday made his first court appearance, where he was assigned a public defender who entered a guilty plea on his behalf. Bail was set at $1 million, plus a court-approved third-party custodian, and the next court hearing in the case is scheduled for March 8.

“In the days ahead, we will come together as a community to heal and support one another,” the North Slope Borough said in its statement Monday, adding that it was “offering our support and condolences to all impacted by this tragedy.”

The North Slope Health Department and Maniilaq Association were coordinating grief counseling services available to residents in need of support, the borough said.