Alaska State Troopers report via the trooper dispatch that they responded to a shooting at a Sterling residence at 4:39 pm on Sunday.

Troopers say a  44-year-old Sterling man called, in reporting that 31-year-old Nikiski resident John Rutherford had shot himself, and was dead at the scene.

Troopers responded and conducted an investigation at the residence. Their investigation revealed that Rutherford had been playing “Russian Roulette” on the couch in front of his fiancee when the firearm discharged, killing him.

Troopers report that nothing suspicious was discovered at the scene.

Rutherford’s next of kin were notified of the incident. Rutherford’s body was sent to the State Medical Examiner’s office in Anchorage for autopsy.

  deceased, gunshot, john rutherford, nikiski, russian roulette, sterling, suicide