Staff Sergeant Julian Christopher Francis Jr., 30, was shot and killed on April 9, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. Police responded about 8:30 a.m. to a gunshot call at a business park near the Anchorage International Airport and found Francis Jr. deceased. He served in the U.S. Army with the 725th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, and had trained and been stationed at several posts including Fort Jackson, Fort Lee, Fort Wainwright, Fort Benning and Fort Bragg before returning to Alaska in 2020.

A 22-year-old male, Brent A. Smith, was identified as the suspect and charged with first- and second-degree murder. According to the criminal complaint, witnesses saw Francis Jr. near an indoor pool at the Hyatt House hotel in Midtown Anchorage with others when Smith arrived in a white sedan, produced a handgun, shot Francis Jr., then fled. A white 2013 Toyota Corolla matching witness descriptions was later located and the suspect was arrested; bail was set at $750,000. The motive remained unclear. Next-of-kin notifications were completed; Francis Jr. is survived by his wife, children, parents, siblings and extended family.

If anyone witnessed the shooting or has information about the events at the Hyatt House that morning, please share what is known.