The VPSO in Manokotak has been shot to death, a Manokotak man has turned himself in for the shooting.

On Tuesday, at approximately 5 pm, a call went in to the Alaska State Troopers in Dillingham reporting that shots had been fired in the village of Manokotak. Unable to reach the VPSO in Mankotak on the phone, the troopers traveled to the community 25 miles to the southwest of Dillingham.

Within the hour, troopers were in the community. When they arrived on scene, they found 54-year-old Village Public Safety Officer Thomas O. Madole on the ground dead from an apparent gunshot wound in front of a vilage residence.

Nearby, the troopers also found 42-year-old Manokotak resident Leroy B Dick. Dick turned himself in to the troopers. Dick was placed into custody by the troopers and transported to Dillingham where he was remanded to the Dillingham Jail. He is being held on First Degree Murder charges.

The small southwest Alaska community was shocked by the incident. Madole had been the community’s VPSO since 2011 and was well liked and thought of as a nice, as well as friendly guy.

Investigators flew to the scene on Tuesday night and Madole’s remains are being sent to the state Medical Examiner on Wednesday.

The community of Manokotak, population approximately 449, is located 25 miles southwest of Dillingham along the Igushik River. Manokotak is the fourth most populated village in the Dillingham census area.