Update: Armed conflict in Chevak leaves one dead, another wounded

Updated | 2:50 p.m. Thursday

Police have identified the police officer wounded after an armed conflict Wednesday in the village of Chevak, in Western Alaska.

Derek McDonald, 40, was shot multiple times by Harold Paniyak, 24, before Paniyak then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide, according to Alaska State Troopers.


Updated | 2:14 p.m. Thursday

One person is dead and another wounded after an armed conflict yesterday in the village of Chevak.

Alaska State troopers report that Harold Paniyak, 24, shot a village police officer and then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide.

According to another VPO, the suspect shot the officer three times before taking his own life.

The suspect died instantly, and the wounded VPSO was medevac’d to a hospital in Anchorage for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

Tribal officials from Chevak suspect alcohol to be the primary factor in the incident.

It was not the young man’s first encounter with the law:

  • In 2009 Paniyak was charged with assault and consuming alcohol in a dry village. The changes were dismissed.
  • In 2012 he pleaded guilty and was convicted for underage consumption of alcohol.
  • In 2013 Paniyak was charged with another count of assault and again charges were dismissed.

Paniyak had been a cross-country runner placing in the state competition in high school.

His next of kin have been notified of his death.


Original story | 11:30 a.m. Thursday

One person is dead and another is wounded after an armed conflict yesterday in the village of Chevak.

According to a village police officer, the suspect shot an officer three times and then turned the gun on himself.

The suspect died instantly; the officer’s status has not been released at this time.

KYUK - Bethel

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