Alaska State Troopers based in Kotzebue responded to a report of shooting in the community of Ambler on Saturday afternoon. 

After responding to the scene, speaking with witnesses and investigating the call, the trooper investigation revealed that 34-year-old Harry Moreno of Ambler had shot at the VPO in the community through the door.

It was reported that the incident began when an intoxicated Morena became  belligerent on the VHF. VPO Jeffery Melton responded to Morena’s residence to investigate the behavior.

It was then that Melton knocked on the door to Moreno’s residence and announced himself that he heard Moreno, on the other side of the door, yell “One shot, one kill!” just prior to a round being fired through the door at the VPO. The VPO immediately retreated from the door at which time he heard two more shots ring out.

During the incident, troopers report that” Moreno shot through the open door several times.”

Shortly thereafter, a friend of Moreno, called Moreno on the VHF and asked if he could speak with him and elicited assurances that Moreno would not shoot him. Moreno assured the friend that he only wanted to shoot the VPO.  The two eventually met in the street and Moreno surrendered his 30-30 lever action rifle, at which time, he was taken into custody without further incident according to trooper dispatch.

Troopers executed a search warrant on the residence and found ingredients for making homebrew as well as evidence of manufactured brew.

It was found  that Moreno’s elderly mother, who is hearing and visually impaired, was at the residence when the incident occurred. She reports that she was totally unaware of the shooting incident that unfolded around her.

Moreno was transported to the Kotzebue Jail Facility, where he was remanded to await arraignment today.

  Alaska, ambler, arrest, harry moreno, jail, kotzebue, rural, shooting, vpo