Drug deal turns bad, ends in Anchorage shooting, police say

A deal for drugs inside a man's vehicle turned to violence Thursday evening, after Anchorage police say the driver was shot and carjacked during an illegal transaction.

In a community alert issued by the Anchorage Police Department, the shooting happened at the intersection of 72nd Avenue and O'Brien Street. The victim, who was reportedly engaged in buying drugs, called police at 5:47 p.m., and told them he had been shot.

Following the investigation, police say the story was that the victim and another man met for a drug sale, and were both seated inside the victim's car to make the trade.

At some point, the drug deal went wrong, and an argument happened inside the car. The man wound up shot, and was forced out of his own car. Then, the dealer and alleged shooter sped away, taking the man's car as well as his money intended for the sale.

The vehicle was described as a blue Audi with a temporary tag. The suspect has not yet been identified, and police provided no description of him Thursday.

Some form of the incident was first called in by someone driving past the scene minutes earlier at 5:28 p.m. Then, the witness told police they saw two men in a "physical altercation" inside a car, and that she saw "guns laying in the street" after the two men exited the vehicle.

The victim was transported to the hospital for treatment of his non-life-threatening injury.