Selawik Suspect, Victim Identities Revealed, Investigation Continues

rural trooperAlaska State Troopers have released further information concerning the shooting/barricade incident in Selawik that took place on Monday. Troopers have identified the identity of both the victim as well as the suspected shooter there.

Troopers say that 39-year-old Christopher Cleveland gave himself up to authorities at 2:30 pm after being notified that a SERT team had responded and had arrived at the community located seventy miles from Kotzebue.

The incident was reported to troopers in Kotzebue at 4:42 am on Monday confirmed by the Selawik police officer that a C. Cleveland had been firing a weapon in the community and had barricaded himself in a residence there. The body of a victim, identified as 23-year-old Wade Cleveland was located outside. The officer reported that he had tried to remove the body of the deceased from the location where he lay, but was fired upon when he attempted to do so.

Despite the same last name, officials in the community say that the two men are not related.

After his surrender, C Cleveland was transported to Nome and remanded to the Anvil Mountain Correctional Center where he was charged with Murder I.

The remains of Wade Cleveland were turned over to the State Medical Examiner’s office for autopsy and his next of kin were notified of the incident.

The troopers say that alcohol is suspected to be a factor in the shooting. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate the case.