Homicide Investigation on the 4200-block of Mountain View Drive
Update on 2/8/24:
From the Attorney General’s Office:
Feb. 7, 2024 (Anchorage, AK) – Today, an Anchorage jury found 24-year-old Mickee Bobby Marcel Thompson guilty of first- and second-degree murder for the April 12, 2018, murder of 19-year-old Sosaia Finau.
At trial, the evidence showed that Thompson and Robert Smith showed up uninvited at the apartment of Thompson’s former girlfriend. The former girlfriend had begun seeing Sosaia Finau. Thompson and Smith left without incident but returned to the apartment to retrieve Thompson’s son. After a verbal dispute over apartment keys Thompson fired his 9mm firearm 17 times at Finau. As Thompson was leaving, Smith entered the apartment and fired 7 rounds at Finau. Finau was hit by 15 bullets in the head, trunk, arm, and legs and died as a result of his injuries before police arrived minutes later.
The State argued that Thompson intentionally killed Finau. Thompson claimed he acted in self-defense and that Smith was the cause the death of Finau. The jury rejected Thompson’s argument.
Superior Court Judge Peter Ramgren presided over the trial. Sentencing is scheduled for June 20, 2024. Thompson faces a sentence of 30-99 years for the murder convictions. Thompson is being held without bail by the Alaska Department of Corrections. Co-defendant Smith previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. This case was investigated by the Anchorage Police Department’s Homicide Unit.
Update on 06/20/23:
From the Attorney General’s Office:
Today, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Peter Ramgren sentenced 23-year-old Robert C. Smith to serve 35 years in jail for the murder of 21-year-old Sosaia Finau on April 12, 2018. An eyewitness told police that Smith and Mickee Thompson shot Finau multiple times in her apartment at 4211 Mountain View Drive.
The agreement between the State of Alaska and Smith called for the court to impose a sentence of 80 years with 45 years suspended, to be followed by 10 years of supervised felony probation. In deciding to accept the parties’ agreement, Judge Ramgren noted that “it does not get more serious” than taking another person’s life.
Finau’s family spoke at the sentencing hearing and gave a heartfelt victim impact statement, forgiving Smith for his actions and expressing their desire that he better his life. Judge Ramgren told Smith that he received “an extraordinary gift” from Finau’s family and expressed hope that Smith understands and appreciates how extraordinary it is to be forgiven by a homicide victim’s family.
Smith’s co-defendant, Mickee Thompson, is pending trial scheduled to start on Aug. 14, 2023, in Anchorage. The charges against Thompson are only allegations and are not evidence of guilt. Thompson is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Anchorage Police Department’s homicide unit investigated this matter.
Update on 12/09/22:
From the Attorney General’s Office:
22-year-old Robert Smith pleaded guilty to one count of murder in the second degree for the April 12, 2018, shooting death of Sosaia Finau in Anchorage. Anchorage Superior Court Judge Eric Aarseth accepted Smith’s guilty plea.
Smith is in the custody of the Department of Corrections. Sentencing has been scheduled for April 6, 2023, in front of Anchorage Superior Court Judge Peter Ramgren.
Update on 5/3/18:
Anchorage Police received a tip that homicide suspects Mickee Thompson and Robert Smith were in a Spenard-area residence. At 7:29 PM on May 3, 2018, both suspects were taken into custody without incident.
Since the search for the suspects began, APD has received dozens of tips from citizens; officers have been diligently following up on those tips. APD is grateful for all of the help received in regards to this case..
Update:
Officers and detectives continue to follow up on multiple tips received about the suspects whereabouts. This morning officers responded to the Valley of the Moon Park for a reported suspicious person. Part of the report included a possible sighting of one of the suspects. The suspicious person report and suspect sighting was unfounded.
The search continues for Mickee Thompson and Robert Smith. They are considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach them.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of these suspects and/or information about this investigation, including surveillance
video, please call 911 or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 907-561-STOP.
Update 4/13/18:
Arrrest warrants for Murder have been issued for Mickee Thompson & Robert Smith.
Again, the suspects are considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach them.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of these suspects and/or information about this investigation, including surveillance
video, please call 911 or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 907-561-STOP.
The victim has been identified as Sosaia Finau (21 years old).
Update 4/12/18 11:50a.m.:
The preliminary investigation has found that an adult male was shot multiple times inside an apartment. He was declared deceased at the scene. Two adult male suspects fled the scene on foot towards North Park Street.
The suspects have been identified (see attached photos) as Mickee Thompson (19 years old) and Robert Smith (18 years old). Thompson (photo 1) was last seen wearing a black hoodie, white T-shirt, dark pants and white shoes. Smith (photo 2) was last seen wearing a dark coat and dark jeans.
The suspects are considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach them.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of these suspects and/or information about this investigation, please call 911 or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 907-561-STOP.
Detectives have determined this to be an isolated crime and not random.
UPDATE 4/12/18 10:20a.m.:
This shooting is now a homicide investigation. SWAT is on scene looking for potential suspect(s). Please continue to avoid the 4200-block of Mountain View Drive. If you live in the area, please stay inside and call 9-1-1 if you see any suspicious persons near your property.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Original:
Officers with the Patrol Division are on the scene of a shooting in the 4200 block of Mountain View Drive.
One victim has been shot.
Please avoid the area.
APD Case: 18-14720
