Police charged a 19-year-old Juneau man with murder Thursday, alleging he stabbed two men, killing one and injuring the other. The victims were father and son. Police say the men were fighting over piece of property.
The capital city’s police department says the alleged murder took place at Cedar Park, a housing development in West Juneau on Douglas Island.
Kevin Scott Nauska fatally stabbed 37-year-old Jordon J. Sharclane in the early morning, police say. Nauska has been charged with murder and attempted murder in the first degree, as well as assault.
Police were still at the apartments collecting evidence around 9:30 a.m.
Police Chief Bryce Johnson says there was no indication drugs were involved, but his department is investigating alcohol as a factor.
Police say the stabbing occurred after a fight over a piece of property but they wouldn’t identify what it was.
“There was one fatality and then a second person was also injured and taken to the hospital,” Johnson said. “The other person involved is in police custody and we are talking to them.”
That second person is the victim’s son: Michael Sharclane. The 19-year-old was taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital with serious injuries. A hospital spokesperson said, as of this afternoon, Sharclane’s condition was stable.
Not far from the crime scene, a group of people clustered together under a shelter, waiting for the bus. Ursula Stewart lives at Cedar Park and says she’s frightened by this recent death.
“I’m from a really bad neighborhood in California and I’ve never seen something like that,” Stewart said.
She said she watched responders wash the blood off the street where the victim’s body was found.
“I was glad that it washed off before my kids had to go on the bus because I was really worried about my kids seeing that kind of stuff. I mean, this is Juneau?” she said.
This is the fourth violent death to happen in Juneau in the past three months. To put that in perspective, no murders were reported in 2014 according to the State of Alaska’s Uniform Crime Report filed with the FBI. And police still have no suspects in custody after a double-homicide in November.
Chief Johnson said some investigators have been working on the cases nonstop.
“If you get a chance to find a family member, JPD detective, give them a hug, because they’re sacrificing their family member to make sure we’re all staying safe,” Johnson said.
Kevin Scott Nauska is being held at Lemon Creek Correctional Center without bail.
