No charges filed in Houston shooting case

Frontiersman staff

HOUSTON -- No charges were filed as of Wednesday in the shooting death of a man at a fireworks stand parking lot in Houston two weeks ago.

Alaska State Troopers from Palmer responded to Mile 52.5 Parks Hwy. for a report of a gunshot victim at approximately 8:42 p.m. on May 18. Michael Duane Peterson Jr., 22, of Wasilla, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The trooper's report alleged that Paul McGee age, 47, of Houston, shot and killed Peterson during a dispute over a reported assault involving Peterson and McGee's 18-year-old son, James. According to troopers, McGee was confronting Peterson based on a phone call from his son that Peterson was at his residence and had assaulted him.

Paul McGee reportedly left his home and headed south, while Peterson left and started north. The two men spotted each other on the Parks Highway and turned into the parking lot of the fireworks stand, troopers said.

McGee confronted Peterson, who according to the report, reached under his shirt to pull something out of his pants. McGee, believing Peterson was pulling a weapon out of his pants, pulled out his own .44-caliber revolver and shot Peterson once in the chest, killing him, according to the trooper report. A short club, like a halibut club, fell from Peterson's hand after he was shot.

The case is still under investigation to determine whether or not charges will be pressed.