WILLOW, ALASKA-On Sunday night at approximately 10:40 pm, the Alaska State Troopers were notified of a fatal shooting in Willow. The incident took place on South Susitna Drive at about mile 91 of the Parks Highway. Troopers from Talkeetna were able to respond in about five minutes to the location.

An investigation by Trooper detachment “B” and the Alaska Bureau of Investigation concluded that Ronald D Gunter, age 61 of Talkeetna died from a gunshot wound during a fight with another adult male at that residence. During the fight the man, unidentified, as charges have not currently been leveled at him, produced a small caliber handgun, and fired once at Gunter, striking him in the head, killing him in an attempt to bring the fight to an end.

1. Information derived from the Alaska Bureau of Investigation has been presented to the Palmer District Attorney’s Office and the circumstances of the incident are still under investigation.

Willow is a community of 1658 persons in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Willow had its beginnings in 1897 after miners discovered gold in Willow Creek. After the completion of the Parks Highway, land disposals and homestead subdivisions, Willow grew from its previous population of 78. Many of the homes in the area are only seasonally occupied.