Former candidate for state senate receives 25-year sentence for hit and run related murder

WASILLA — A 41-year-old Palmer resident and former candidate for state senate, Gavin Sullivan Christiansen, recently received a 25-year sentence for second-degree murder, first-degree weapon misconduct, and three counts of third-degree assault.

Christiansen was a candidate for state Senate in 2020 for the state Senate seat representing the southern Matanuska-Susitna Borough. He withdrew from the race Aug. 31, citing health reasons, according to the Alaska Beacon, but because his withdrawal came after the official deadline, he remained on the ballot on the day in October that he met Moorhouse.

According to a press release from Alaska Department of Law, Christiansen called 911 to report that his vehicle was struck during a hit and run and he was pursuing the driver who hit his vehicle near Mile 37 of Wasilla-Fishhook Road in Willow Oct. 11, 2020.

An investigation revealed that Christiansen was outside of his vehicle when it was hit. Christiansen shot at the fleeing vehicle about 15 times and pursued the driver, 35-year-old Devin Moorhouse.

The crazed chase went on for about five miles before Moorhouse lost control of his vehicle and veered off the road into a ditch with his juvenile passenger.

Christiansen drove up to Moorhouse’s driver’s side window and declared, “I am about to shoot somebody” while on the phone with MATCOM dispatch. Christiansen proceeded to fire several shots into the vehicle, killing Moorhouse. The juvenile passenger managed to make it out of the incident unharmed.

Christiansen told investigators that Moorhouse had pointed a firearm at him as he approached the stranded vehicle. Moorhouse’s gun was found at the scene, but investigators indicated that it was not loaded.

A Palmer jury convicted Christiansen of the preceding charges in March, according to the press release.

When Christiansen’s defense attorney argued that his client’s actions were in self-defense, Palmer Assistant District Attorney Kerry Corliss indicated that Christiansen shot at Moorhouse and pursued him for several miles and Moorhouse had the right to use self-defense because he had unequivocally conveyed his withdrawal from the conflict by fleeing twice.

“Alaska has a stand your ground self-defense law, but it is stand your ground, not chase them down,” Corliss stated in the rebuttal.

According to the press release, Superior Court Judge Kari Kristiansen gave Christiansen a composite sentence of 30 years with five years suspended, or 25 years to serve. Christiansen will be on felony probation for a number of years after his release.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com. Additional information courtesy of the Alaska Beacon.