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.
MOBILE, AL – A man charged in connection with a fatal shooting outside an Alabama bar is claiming self-defense, as new details emerged during a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
On February 1, officers from the Mobile Police Department responded to a reported shooting at the Alabama Bar & Lounge.
Upon arrival, authorities discovered that Hunter Lins and another man had been shot following an altercation outside the establishment.
Lins was transported to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The second victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, survived.
Matthew Sanders was subsequently arrested and charged with murder and first-degree assault in connection with the incident.
During Tuesday’s preliminary hearing, Sanders’ attorney, Jeff Deen, argued that his client acted in self-defense after being attacked. Deen claimed that surveillance footage supports this assertion, showing Sanders being “jumped on” before the shooting.
However, Lins’ stepsister, Kelsie Harvell, refuted that claim, asserting that the shooting was not an act of self-defense and could have been entirely avoided.
A homicide detective testified that multiple witnesses reported an argument between Sanders and Lins inside the bar near the pool table.
- A bartender allegedly instructed only Sanders to leave the bar.
- Lins followed him outside, reportedly to apologize.
- Once outside, a physical altercation ensued between Sanders and Lins, with Lins’ brother, known as “Rusty,” also getting involved.
- According to Rusty, he attempted to break up the fight, but Sanders retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and opened fire.
Deen countered this narrative, claiming that Sanders was attacked by the two brothers and was defending himself.
“He got jumped on at a bar. He left when he was told to, but then a crowd followed him outside and continued the fight,” Deen said. “I’m sorry someone got shot, but he brought it on himself.”
During testimony, the detective noted that Lins had a beer bottle during the altercation but discarded it before being shot, leaving him unarmed and defenseless.
Harvell questioned Sanders’ justification for self-defense, stating, “If he was able to open his car door to grab a gun and shoot two people, why wasn’t he able to get in the car and leave?”
Additionally, the District Attorney’s Office revealed that after the shooting, Sanders allegedly posted a video on Snapchat waving a gun and saying, “I told y’all to leave me alone… and to quit playing with me.”
Investigators later confirmed that the firearm seen in the video was the same weapon recovered at the crime scene.
During the hearing, Sanders’ defense requested a bond reduction, which was denied by the judge. He remains incarcerated at Metro Jail with a $250,000 bond.
The case is now moving to a grand jury for further review.