Mountain View, Alaska

From the Anchorage Daily News of June 30, 2006

Teen killed in driveway confrontation

Two teenagers were shot and one of them died after they approached a man in his Mountain View driveway Wednesday night in what may have been an attempted robbery, city and police officials said Thursday.

James Ifopo, 17, died after a single bullet hit him in the chest, authorities and witnesses said. A 16-year-old boy was also shot after the three youths -- all of them on bicycles, according to witnesses -- rode up to the man.

The wounded teenager was treated at a local hospital and released, police said.

The name of the injured 16-year-old and the third juvenile were not released because of their ages, police said.

The name of the man who fired the gun on the juveniles was also not released. A witness said Thursday that police took the man away in handcuffs.

Police Sgt. Slawomir Markiewicz said the shooter was cooperating with police and was released from custody Thursday morning.

The Police Department and district attorney's office were evaluating the circumstances late Thursday for possible charges, they said.

"We have to go through and take our time," said District Attorney Bob Linton on Thursday afternoon. "I've (not) had a chance to know enough detail to make an intelligent decision on my own and in consultation with police. That's what I need to do."