A comedy club owner, who was reported to be suffering from terminal cancer, has passed away after a violent incident involving his ex-stepfather and ex-wife in Alaska.
Police in Anchorage launched a search for 61-year-old Matthew Thomas Becker after he allegedly shot his ex-stepfather, Romaine Clark, while also attempting to harm his ex-wife on Saturday, March 14th, as noted by local news sources.
Becker was identified as a suspect in this murder case, facing charges of first-degree murder and third-degree assault. This came after he allegedly fired at his ex-wife outside her hair salon early that Saturday morning.
Officers reported that Clark was shot moments later inside a nearby home, as detailed by Anchorage Daily News.
A criminal complaint revealed that Becker’s ex-wife described how he appeared next to her vehicle as she arrived at work and subsequently fired shots as he exited the car and attempted to enter the salon.
She managed to find cover from him and quickly dialed 911, expressing concern for Clark’s safety.
Just after her call, which was received around 9:30 a.m., police located Clark at his home on Alder Drive with visible gunshot wounds.
“Initial evidence suggests the suspect went to the back of the residence, fired several rounds through a plate glass window, fatally striking the victim before fleeing,” remarked Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case in a statement.
Friends found Clark’s body shortly before police arrived. They had been waiting to meet him, and upon realizing he hadn’t come out, they entered the house and discovered the situation.
Interestingly, Becker’s ex-wife was unaware that he had relocated to Arizona after their divorce and subsequently returned to Alaska.
The search for Becker concluded rather dramatically when he was found dead the following day in a wooded area near Eagle River.
Authorities discovered his body at around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, but specifics regarding the cause of death are still being investigated.
Becker’s brother mentioned that he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer and had been managing a comedy club called Chuckleheads in Arizona.
As of now, the Anchorage Police Department has not made any official comments regarding the ongoing situation.
