Alaska State Troopers are investigating a weekend shooting in Grayling that caused an Anvik man to be medevaced to Anchorage, calling alcohol a “significant contributing factor” but not immediately identifying any suspects.
According to a Monday AST dispatch, Bethel troopers learned about the shooting at 7:10 a.m. Saturday, accompanying a medevac flight to Grayling to investigate while a village public safety officer also headed to the village from Anvik.
Responders learned that Chaz Walker, 19, was shot at about 6:30 a.m. in a local residence, where at least two adults and their small children were also present. He was initially medevaced to Bethel and eventually moved to the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage due to blood loss, but underwent surgery and is in stable condition Monday.
Troopers say none of the adults present at the time of the shooting remember how it occurred.
“While receiving care at the Grayling Clinic, Walker told Troopers he did not know what had happened to him and that he woke up after being shot,” troopers wrote. “The two (adults) present when Walker was shot stated to Troopers that they did (not) know what happened.”
AST spokesperson Beth Ipsen says the incident followed significant amounts of drinking at the home.
“We do believe that they were drinking heavily before this, earlier in the day,” Ipsen said.
The shooting remains under investigation.
Contact Chris Klint
