2 injured in shooting at New Year’s Eve party

ANCHORAGE — Anchorage police are investigating a shooting at a New Year’s Eve party that wounded two people, one critically.

Witnesses say a house was packed with people before they heard shots fired around 1 a.m. Friday. One person was taken to the hospital in critical condition and another who had been shot arrived at the hospital later for treatment.

Family members confirmed with the Alaska Dispatch News that the man in critical condition is 21-year-old Armando Ochoa. His mother and relatives were at the Alaska Native Medical Center Friday night, where they said Ochoa was in the critical care unit.

“He is strong,” said Ochoa’s girlfriend, Jazmin Carreon.

Late Friday morning, 21-year-old Kollin Madsen told the Alaska Dispatch News that his friend hosted the party and that he had no idea what started the shooting. He had returned that day to help clean up the house, where bloody rags, shards of glass and plastic cups could still be seen on the floor.

“It was quite a bit of gunfire,” Madsen said.

Neighbor Nyaboth Luak told KTUU-TV that her house was hit by bullets, with one shattering a lamp above her head. After investigators left, she said she found a slug in her bed upstairs. The former Sudan resident said children in the home, including her own and a nephew, ran downstairs after the shooting started.

“I never seen something like that here in the United States,” she told KTUU-TV.

A statement released Friday evening by the Anchorage Police Department says witnesses were being interviewed.

Neighbors say they saw a white or silver car driving away from the party as a passenger fired a gun.

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is asked to call authorities.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

The Theodore Roosevelt Office Building in Washington, home of the Office of Personnel Management, on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. The Office of Personnel Management, the agency that manages the federal civilian work force and is coordinating an effort by the Trump administration to drastically reduce the size of the federal work force, laid off dozens of employees on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, according to people familiar with the move. (Valerie Plesch/The New York Times)
Mass firings ordered by Trump administration, including nearly 10% of U.S. Forest Service

Terminations primarily target probationary employees with less than two years’ experience.

Former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola speaks at the Alaska Democratic Party’s state convention on May 18, 2024, at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Report: Former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola likely to run for governor in 2026

Democrat ousted in November would likely face crowded field in open race for Alaska’s top spot.

Meilani Schijvens, owner of Rain Coast Data, discusses regional economic data complied by her company during Southeast Conference’s Mid-Season Summit at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Five-year economic plan for Southeast suggests spending $300M to address top priority of housing

Other top goals include boosting seafood marketing, renewable energy, locally-owned tourism enterprises

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, Feb. 10, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Alaska Supreme Court chief justice Susan Carney poses for a photo in a seventh-floor office of the state courthouse in Juneau on Feb 11, 2025. (Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Who is Susan Carney, Alaska’s new chief justice?

For the first time in Alaska history, the state’s supreme court is… Continue reading

Alaska Chief Justice Susan Carney speaks to the Alaska Legislature on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. At background are Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak (left) and Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham (right). (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska chief justice vows speedier trials after investigative journalists find problems

In her first address to the Alaska Legislature since becoming head of… Continue reading

Joann, the arts and crafts chain, announced it will close its Juneau location. An employee is seen working at the store on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s Joann craft store is one of 500 closing across the US

Company filing for bankruptcy; property manager at mall said it’s unknown when local store will close.

Most Read