TRAPPER CREEK -- A Trapper Creek man was charged Monday with attempted murder after Alaska State Troopers say a domestic dispute ended in a gunfight.

According to a trooper press release issued Wednesday, George Blodgett, 52, was hospitalized Sunday with a gunshot wound to the leg. Although he traded shots with a neighbor, troopers say it started with an argument with his girlfriend. Sort of.

“Blodgett and the woman were in a relationship but I don’t know if it was at the level of a girlfriend,” said trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters. She said the incident started at Blodgett’s house.

“They had a domestic disagreement. I’m not talking about a huge fight or anything,” Peters said. “She left and went to the neighbor’s house. He was angry probably because of the choice of neighbor’s house she went to.”

Peters said Blodgett drove his snowmachine to the neighbor’s house on Bradley Road and began arguing with the man. The argument led to Blodgett firing rounds at the man’s house.

“The owner returned fire,” Peters said.

Blodgett then left and troopers arrived to interview the homeowner, she said. He told them he thought he’d hit Blodgett and so they called Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

Blodgett was there. He was treated for his wound and released. Troopers interviewed him and arrested him afterward.

Peters said it’s still unclear what charges, if any, the homeowner who returned fire will face. For that reason, troopers aren’t releasing his name.

“There’s a variety of possibilities and we have to look at all of those possibilities and give it to the [district attorney] to make a decision,” Peters said.

Court records show charges of attempted murder and assault were filed against Blodgett in Superior Court the day after the shooting. Prison records late Wednesday afternoon showed he remains jailed at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility. Bail is set at $30,000.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.