Homicide; 400-block Irwin Street
Update 08/22/23:
Yesterday, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Jack McKenna sentenced 22-year-old Anthony Raymond Salazar and 26-year-old Haitim Mahir Taha for the April 7, 2017, murder of Leroy Lawrence in Anchorage.
Both defendants pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree assault for the April 7, 2017, drive-by shooting in Mountain View that resulted in the death of Leroy Lawrence on his 17th birthday. Salazar, who was 16 years old at the time of the murder, was also sentenced on an additional consolidated count of first-degree weapons misconduct for firing from a motor vehicle during the murder and for a separate drive-by shooting on August 23, 2017. Salazar was convicted and sentenced as an adult pursuant to Alaska Statute 47.12.030.
On April 7, 2017, after a brief exchange with two individuals at a local hospital, Salazar and Taha followed those individuals to Mountain View, which ultimately resulted in shots being fired from Taha’s vehicle. Leroy Lawrence happened to be walking in the area at the time of the shooting and was struck by a bullet that ultimately resulted in his death. Lawrence was not one of the individuals involved in the dispute with Salazar and Taha. Another individual was also shot during the shooting, which was the basis of the first-degree assault conviction.
Salazar was also involved in a drive-by shooting of a residence on Schodde Street. Nobody was injured during this shooting.
Per the agreement of the parties, Salazar was sentenced to a composite sentence of 50 years with 25 years suspended. He will be placed on felony probation supervision for a period of 10 years upon release. Taha was sentenced to a composite sentence of 40 years with 20 years suspended. He will also be placed on felony probation supervision for a period of 10 years upon release.
Several members of Lawrence’s family spoke at the sentencing hearing and described the impact the loss of Lawrence’s life has had on their family. Judge McKenna expressed his condolences for the family and found that the sentence was appropriate given the circumstances of this case. These cases were investigated by the Anchorage Police Department’s homicide unit and robbery-assault unit.
Salazar and Taha are both currently in the custody of the Alaska Department of Corrections.
Update 9/17/18:
Members of the United States Marshals Service notified detectives today that Haitim Mahir Taha was located in Israel this morning and arrested by Israeli Police.
The Anchorage Police Department is working with its federal and state partners to have the suspect extradited back to the United States.
Update 9/18/17:
Haitim Mahir Taha (20 years old) is now a suspect in this investigation along with Anthony Salazar (16 years old).
Salazar is in custody and Taha is currently at-large.
The preliminary investigation found that on 4/7/17, Taha and Salazar were in a 2007 silver Monte Carlo and following a 2013 white Ford Escape with multiple people inside. Taha was driving and Salazar was the passenger. They follow the Escape to the area of Irwin and Thompson where it parks. As the people were exiting the Escape, Tasha and Salazar drove by and began shooting. One person from the Escape was shot and Leroy Lawrence, who was walking to a friend’s house, was stuck by one of the bullets. Lawrence was transported to a hospital and died days later. The other victim was shot in the leg and taken to a hospital in the Escape. Taha and Salazar fled the scene in the Monte Carlo.
Taha is 5’05” tall, 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Taha, please call APD Dispatch at 786-8900 (press “0” to reach an operator). To remain anonymous, you may contact Crime Stoppers at 561-STOP or online at www.anchoragecrimestoppers.com.
Update 7/6/17:
Police are asking for the public’s help in locating 20-year-old Haitim Mahir Taha who is believed to have information regarding a shooting in Mountain View that took place earlier this year. For investigative purposes, further information regarding the crime itself is not being released at this time.
Taha is 5’05” tall, 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
Update on 4/11/17 at 3:51 PM:
Police are asking for the public’s help in locating two vehicles that were seen in the area of Irwin and Peterkin in Mountain View, last Friday, April 7th, in the afternoon during the time of the shooting which resulted in Leroy Lawrence’s death.
One vehicle is a 2007 silver Monte Carlo that has a dent to the driver’s side rear bumper, tinted windows, and distinctive rims (please see attached photo). It has Alaska plates FDK570.
The second vehicle is a 2013 white Ford Escape, Alaska license plates JCW942.
The occupants of these vehicles may have information regarding the homicide. If you know the location of the vehicles, or who drives them, please contact Anchorage Police.
At 3:32 PM on Friday, April 7, 2017, Anchorage Police responded to the 400-block of Irwin in reference to a shooting. 17-year-old Leroy Lawrence was found lying in the street with a gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to the hospital; he died there on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, as a result of his injuries. Initial indications are that Lawrence was not involved in the shooting and was an innocent bystander.
According to witnesses there were many people on foot in the area when several shots were exchanged; at least one vehicle was involved. In addition to Lawrence, another pedestrian suffered gunshot wounds as well. That adult male was transported to the hospital by friends; the injuries to his legs were non-life-threatening.
No arrests have been made at this time.
Original on 4/11/17 at 10:10 AM:
At 3:32 PM on Friday, April 7, 2017, Anchorage Police responded to the 400-block of Irwin in reference to a shooting. 17-year-old Leroy Lawrence was found lying in the street with a gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to the hospital; he died there on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, from his injuries. Initial indications are that Lawrence was not involved in the shooting and was an innocent bystander.
According to witnesses there were many people on foot in the area when several shots were exchanged; at least one vehicle was involved. In addition to Lawrence, another pedestrian suffered gunshot wounds as well. That adult male was transported to the hospital by friends; the injuries to his legs were non-life-threatening.
No arrests have been made at this time. Anyone with information regarding this crime, who has not yet spoken to officers, is asked to contact Police Dispatch at 786-8900 (press “0” to speak with an operator). To remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 561-STOP or online at www.anchoragecrimestoppers.com.
APD Case 17-14008
