Homebrew drinking turned lethal for an Alakanuk man on Monday according to the Alaska State Troopers.
It was on Monday night, at 7:50 pm, that a report from the Alakanuk police went in to the Alaska State Troopers reporting the discovery of a deceased man in the village. It was reported that the police in the village went to the home of 46-year-old Brian Williams and found him dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Poor weather condtions kept the troopers from immediately responding to the call and Alakanuk police secured the area and awaited the arrival of the troopers from Emmonak. A health aide from the community declared Williams deceased at the home.
It was 11:25 am on Tuesday before troopers could arrive at the scene and conduct an investigation of the incident.
The trooper investigation would find that Williams was drrinking homebrew at his home when he got into an arguement with a family member. The arguement quickly turned deadly however, when Williams retrieved a longgun and shot himself.
The State Medical Examiner’s office in Anchorage was contacted and they requested that William’s remains be transported to Anchorage for autopsy.
The community of Alakanuk, with its population of approximately 700 people is located at the east entrance of Alakanuk Pass on the Yukon River. The community is 15 miles from the Bering Sea 8 miles from Emmonak and 162 miles northwest of Bethel. The community stretches along the Yukon River for approximately 3 miles, making it the longest village on the river.