Trial scheduled for man accused

of killing ex-girlfriend's new lover

March 15, 2005

KATE GOLDEN/Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - A Palmer man accused of fatally shooting a man who lay asleep next to his former girlfriend was scheduled for trial this week on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder and first-degree burglary.

Court records allege that Eugene Gordon Jr., 40, kicked in the front door of Jesus "Jesse" Manglona's house early on Dec. 14, 2004, headed to the bedroom where Manglona and Gordon's former girlfriend, Laurie Welsh, were sleeping, and shot Manglona in the face with a loaded .357-caliber Magnum revolver.

Welsh told Alaska State Troopers that Gordon stood at the foot of the bed, waved the revolver at her and said, "You're both going to die."

She wrested the gun from him and ran out. Gordon, family members reported, hid in the bathroom closet with the revolver.

Troopers arriving at 3:45 a.m. found Gordon outside in a brown Ford Ranger. He reportedly tried to escape, but got stuck in the snow.

Hostage negotiators and family members arrived to help troopers stand down Gordon, who was threatening to kill himself.

Manglona's 13-year-old son, Jesse, was in the house when his father was shot. The gunshot woke him and he heard the struggle. Manglona's 19-year-old daughter, LeAnna, arrived at the scene of the tumult just after 3 a.m. She said she pushed her way into the bedroom and found her dead father laying as though he were sleeping.

Investigators reported that Gordon was intoxicated the entire time.

Neighbors said Gordon and Manglona, 53, played darts together, frequented each other's houses - and had both dated Welsh.

Gordon and Welsh were romantically involved for five years, but they broke up more than a month before. Welsh had been dating Manglona for three weeks at the time of the slaying.

Manglona's children said Gordon had been following Welsh and Manglona around for several weeks.

Gordon has lived in the Mat-Su for seven years and worked for Vend Alaska. He has been held at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility since his arrest, in lieu of $500,000 bond.

Palmer Superior Court Judge Eric Smith will preside over the trial. Palmer District Attorney Roman Kalytiak is prosecuting the case. Gordon is represented by Assistant Public Defender Abigail Sheldon. It was not known by press time Monday morning if a jury would be picked or if the trial date would be reset.

Contact Kate Golden at 352-2284 or kate.golden@frontiersman.com.