Alcohol-fueled evening leaves a Tooksook woman dead, though police have not yet said how the shooting occurred.
KYUK, Bethel: Police are investigating the death of a woman they say suffered a fatal gunshot wound. 25-year-old Roseanne Pitka of Toksook Bay was found dead early Friday at a residence in Bethel’s Larson Subdivision. Police report that she died from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. They received a call at about 4:50 a.m.
Police say the incident is suspicious and they are not ruling out anything, including homicide or a self-inflicted wound. At the time this story was filed they were still interviewing witnesses. Police believe alcohol was a factor.
Police have made one arrest, 33-year-old Quinn Angaiak of Bethel, who was arrested at the scene of the incident. He’s charged with fourth degree weapons misconduct, a misdemeanor for allegedly possessing a firearm while intoxicated.
A police affidavit filed in a Bethel court says a person who was at the house stated that they had been drinking with Pitka and Angaiak. The woman said Pitka went to the bedroom after 4:00 a.m. to find Angaiak. She later heard crying and observed a bloody scene with Angaiak holding onto Pitka.
Angaiak told police he was thinking about shooting himself but decided to put the gun down on the bed instead. He said his finger accidentally hit the trigger and fired into the bed. Police observed a bullet hole in the bed.
Next of kin have been notified. Pitka’s body will be sent to the state medical examiners office for an autopsy.