Three Teens Charged With The Murder Of Kotzebue Man


In Kotzebue, three teenagers have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder following the shooting death of Joshua Sours III.

Sours was found with a gunshot wound on Friday, after Kotzebue Police and paramedics responded to a report that someone had been shot on Second Avenue at 1:18 a.m.

The 27-year-old victim was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead, according to press releases from the Kotzebue Police Department.

Charged with the fatal shooting are Brandon M. Nelson, Tony Jackson, and Frank J. Jackson Jr. — all of whom were arraigned Monday at the Kotzebue Trial Court. In addition to second-degree murder, the three teenagers face charges of first-degree robbery and tampering with physical evidence.

Nelson is just 17 years old, but Kotzebue Police said he was “automatically waived to adult status,” given the seriousness of his alleged crimes. Tony Jackson is 18, and Frank J. Jackson Jr. is 19. Their bail is set at $1 million.

Sours’ next of kin was notified after his death on Friday, and the State Medical Examiner’s Office is scheduled is perform an autopsy.

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