Alleged shooting prompts felony indictment

PALMER -- A Palmer grand jury has indicted a Wasilla man for first-degree assault in the shooting of another man.

Jobie D. Karr, 40, also faces two counts of fourth-degree misconduct involving a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment. Trial is set for March 15 in Superior Court.

The shooting occurred Sept. 28, 2003, after Karr and his wife, who both had been drinking, started arguing and told visitors Stephen Foltz, Bonnie Della-Silva, Jeff Navarette and Thomas Hood to leave their house on Upland Drive, according to charging documents.

"Shortly after leaving the residence and walking down the driveway, they heard two gunshots," charging documents said. "After the second gunshot, Navarette told them he had been shot. They helped Navarette out to the driveway where he collapsed."

Karr's wife, Lillian, told troopers she saw Jobie Karr fire his .44-caliber Ruger revolver into the air after the visitors left the house.

"J. Karr then leveled the handgun and fired into the darkness," charging documents said.

After shooting twice, Karr unloaded the gun inside the house and threw it into the driveway, according to an affidavit from trooper Sgt. Dennis Ponder. Then the couple watched a movie at home, the affidavit said.

Troopers were notified of the shooting at 8:45 p.m. Upon arriving at the house, they found that Navarette had been shot in the buttock, charging documents said. Karr's blood-alcohol level registered .11 two hours later, troopers said.

First-degree assault is a class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Karr is scheduled to appear in court Monday for a pre-trial conference.