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.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.