The FBI has confirmed that they are investigating the deaths of two Coast Guard employees yesterday morning in Kodiak as a double-homicide. Bureau spokesman Eric Gonzales did not identify a suspect, who is still at large.
The victims have been identified as Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class James Hopkins, an electronics technician, and Richard Belisle, a civilian employee and retired Coast Guard chief petty officer.
The two men were found shot to death in one of the buildings at Communications Station Kodiak by coworkers when they arrived between 7 and 8 a.m. Thursday.
The ComSta  is a high security area, responsible for radio communications across the North Pacific and Bering Sea. Coast Guard Captain Karl Moore said because of the sensitive nature of the area, there are several video surveillance cameras in the vicinity. He said the FBI will be reviewing them.
Since the killings took place on federal property, the FBI has jurisdiction. Military police, the Coast Guard Investigative Service and the Alaska State Troopers are assisting.
Security patrols at the Coast Guard base and the surrounding residential neighborhoods have been increased, but the base, and Petersen Elementary School which is on base, are open today.
Rear Admiral Thomas Ostebo, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District, said a number of crisis response personnel and resources have been sent to Kodiak to assist the victim’s families, friends and coworkers to cope with the tragic event.
Coast Guard Base Kodiak is the largest in the nation, with about 2,000 military and civilian employees.
Jay Barrett is the news director at KMXT in Kodiak.
