Man shot on night of home invasions dies

WASILLA — One of two men who reported to the hospital the night of two home invasions within a few miles of each other has died, authorities said.

Forrest Bieber, 24, of Anchorage died from his wounds Sunday at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer. Bieber and an unidentified man arrived at the hospital minutes after the second home invasion on the night of Dec. 1. The second man also was released Dec. 7.

A third person who suffered a gunshot wound that night was released a few days after the shooting, according to Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Beth Ipsen.

Authorities said they are still investigating whether Bieber had any connection to a pair home invasions that evening. The first occurred about 4 p.m., Dec. 1 near 8.5-mile Wasilla-Fishhook Road, when two men walked into a residence through an unlocked door and attacked a woman and her son, authorities said. The woman sustained injuries in the attack but troopers said they were not life-threatening. The men fled on foot, according to the Alaska State Troopers. A K9 unit was later called to the area to track the men.

Almost three hours later, a second invasion ended in gunfire when two men entered an apartment near the intersection of the Palmer-Wasilla Highway and Trunk Road. A man, an apparent victim of the second invasion, was taken from the scene of that investigation to the hospital in Palmer with multiple gunshots wounds, according to Ipsen.

Troopers say they their investigation continues, but for now they are uncertain of the circumstances leading up to Bieber’s death, Ipsen said.

“Investigators are still trying to figure out if the two events are linked,” she said. “They still haven’t established a connection between the two home invasions, either.”

Without a conclusive link between the incidents, troopers also can’t say with certainty whether these men are the only three injured that night, Ipsen said.

Bieber’s name appears in court records connected to less than 10 misdemeanor and minor-offense court cases. The lone felony case on theft charges was filed in October 2013 in Anchorage District Court. Bieber pleaded guilty to a reduced charge and served 15 days in jail with an additional 165 days suspended sentence, as well as three years unsupervised probation. He twice violated the conditions of parole, according to court records.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com.