Crime
49-year-old John Sibole Fatally Shot in Willow Following Dispute, Suspect in Custody
WILLOW, Alaska – A confrontation over an earlier dispute led to a fatal shooting Monday night in Willow, according to charging documents filed by Alaska State Troopers.
Authorities responded to a 911 call at approximately 9:15 p.m. on North McKinley Way, near Willow Townsite Food Mart along the Parks Highway.
Upon arrival, troopers discovered 49-year-old John Sibole deceased at the scene.
31-year-old Jared Higgins was arrested in connection with the shooting.
According to an affidavit filed by Investigator Craig Markiewicz, the altercation stemmed from an earlier dispute between Higgins and a female family member of Sibole.
The woman had gone to Higgins’ residence earlier in the day to assist with cleaning and gathering firewood. When she asked Higgins for help, an argument ensued.
Charging documents state that Higgins refused to assist, leading to a physical altercation in which he allegedly shoved the woman.
She responded by pushing him back before leaving the residence with several children.
Later that evening, Sibole arrived at the home to confront Higgins regarding the incident.
Higgins told investigators that Sibole struck him multiple times on the side of the face, prompting him to fire a gunshot into Sibole’s abdomen.
After the shooting, Higgins called 911.
According to the affidavit, he exited the home with the firearm pointed downward. However, multiple witnesses, including the woman and other adults performing CPR on Sibole, reported that Higgins pointed the weapon at them during the ordeal.
Audio captured from 911 calls featured three individuals yelling at Higgins to “stop pointing his firearm at them”, according to Investigator Markiewicz.
Troopers observed minor injuries on Higgins’ ear and face, which they noted in the report.
Higgins was taken into custody and booked at the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility.
He faces charges of:
- Second-degree murder
- Three counts of third-degree assault
Higgins remained jailed as of Tuesday, with his first court appearance scheduled for later that afternoon.
The Alaska State Troopers continue to investigate the incident.
Crime
Former Texas Worship Minister and Christian Musician Jon Sheptock Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A married Christian musician and former worship minister who once performed at a rally for former President Donald Trump has been arrested on multiple child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges, authorities confirmed.
According to officials, Jon Sheptock, a former minister at First Montgomery Baptist Church, was taken into custody on September 26 by detectives from the Montgomery County Constable’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Unit.
He faces charges of possession and production of child pornography following a detailed investigation into allegations of long-term misconduct.
The arrest was based on testimony from a woman who alleged that Sheptock stole a photograph of her approximately nine years ago, when she was 17 years old.
The victim told investigators that after sending her the image, Sheptock demanded explicit photographs and later sent her a video depicting a violent assault, warning that he “did not want that to happen to her.”
Court records further indicate that Sheptock showed the victim nude images of both adults and minors on his computer.
Investigators allege that the misconduct continued as recently as October 2023, when Sheptock reportedly sent a text message to the victim containing a nude image of young girls.
Before his arrest, Sheptock was widely known as a Christian recording artist and motivational speaker.
His now-deleted website biography stated that he was born without arms and with one leg shorter than the other, yet went on to describe himself as a “thriving Christian recording artist and speaker.” He has been married for 26 years and is the father of three daughters.
In a public statement, First Montgomery Baptist Church confirmed that Sheptock was immediately removed from all ministry responsibilities following his arrest.
The church emphasized that Sheptock did not hold any position involving direct contact with children, and there is no indication that minors associated with the church were involved or affected.
Sheptock gained wider public attention in January 2022, when he performed the national anthem at a rally for then-President Donald Trump, according to The Independent.
If convicted, Sheptock faces a potential prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information to contact the Montgomery County Constable’s Office Human Traffic.