Homicide; 4000-block E 7th Avenue
UPDATE from the U.S. Attorney's Office:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Rachel Torey Danielle Epperson, 30, and Adam Alan Blodgett, 37, both of Anchorage, have been indicted on federal gun charges in connection with the April 4, 2020, shooting death of another individual.
Epperson and Blodgett have both been charged with conspiracy and acquiring a firearm by deception. Blodgett has also been charged with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Epperson was arrested on April 4, 2020, and Blodgett was arrested on July 16, 2020.
According to federal charging documents, on March 17, 2020, Epperson is alleged to have straw-purchased a firearm from a licensed gun dealer on behalf of Blodgett, who, with six prior felony convictions, was unable to purchase one himself. At the direction of Blodgett, Epperson allegedly purchased a 9mm pistol for Blodgett, who had taken possession of the pistol thereafter.
The federal charges stem from an April 4, 2020, shooting that resulted in the death of another individual. Epperson and Blodgett are currently facing charges with the State of Alaska for Manslaughter in connection to the shooting death. Additionally, Epperson, along with Angelique Aurora Petty, 34, are also facing charges with the State of Alaska for Attempted Murder and Assault of Blodgett.
If convicted on the federal charges, Epperson and Blodgett face a maximum of 10 years in prison. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Anchorage Police Department (APD) conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case. The federal case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Klugman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Update on 4/7/20 at 2:30 PM:
The victim has been identified as 27-year-old Ionatana Toa. Next-of-kin notification procedures have been completed.
Update on 4/5/20 at 7:00 PM:
30-year-old Rachel T. D. Epperson has been arrested and remanded at the Anchorage Jail on the charges of Attempted Murder I, Assault III, and Manslaughter.
Update on 4/5/20:
The victim passed away at the hospital from his injuries; this incident is now being investigated as a homicide. The victim's name will be released once next-of-kin notification procedures have been completed.
There is no additional information to release at this time.
Original:
At 9:08 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2020, an APD Officer stopped near Bragaw and the Glenn reported to Dispatch that he heard several gunshots. Shortly thereafter citizens began calling APD Dispatch stating they had heard multiple shots in the area of 7th Avenue and Klevin Street. Officers responded and began looking for those involved.
At 9:20 PM a local hospital relayed to APD Dispatch that an adult male with a gunshot wound to the upper body had just been dropped off. His injury is believed to be life-threatening. Officers are still working to determine whether or not his injury is related to the aforementioned shots-fired call.
There have been no arrests at this time and there are several officers in the Mountain View area conducting an investigation. Anyone with information regarding the shooting, to include surveillance footage, is asked to call Police Dispatch at 3-1-1 (option #1).
APD Case 20-10877
