Shungnak man arrested on charges of shooting someone, court documents say

SHUNGNAK, Alaska (KTUU) - A Shungnak man is in custody on assault charges after allegedly shooting someone Sunday, according to charging documents.

Jacob Foster, 23, is being charged with first-degree assault and fourth-degree misconduct involving a weapon, according to the documents. The victim in the shooting allegedly went to Foster’s cabin in Shungnak at their sister’s request Sunday, where she allegedly was.

As the victim approached the door, they saw four to five bright flashes that looked like gunfire. They ran but were struck by at least one round, the documents claim. The Alaska State Troopers received word of the shooting around 4:45 a.m.

The victim was treated at a clinic for their gunshot wound to the right bicep. They also had a grazing wound on the right ribcage and reported pain in their right-hand fingers, indicating a nerve injury.

The victim said they had no known issues with Foster and believed he may not have known who he was shooting at. A search of Foster’s property revealed multiple spent .40 Smith & Wesson casings near the entry of the cabin and footprints leading away from the area.

Around 11 a.m., Troopers found Foster asleep against a tree in the woods near Shungnak Airport. Foster had a loaded gun on him consistent with the recovered shell casings. He also showed signs of being intoxicated.

Foster allegedly told Troopers he fired somewhere between three and five rounds and realized he hit the victim, which he felt bad about. He also said he was sober at the time but took a few shots when fleeing into the woods.

Foster was remanded at Kotzebue Regional Jail. A preliminary hearing on the case will be held at 9 a.m. Nov. 5 at the Kotzebue Courthouse. Alaska’s News Source reached out to Foster’s legal representation for comment, but as of Tuesday has not received a response.

The shooting put the village on lockdown at one point, according to Troopers.

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