Charged with shooting at police, stealing cars, and robbing homes to support his drug addiction, a man with a tattooed face, skull, and eyeball has appeared in an American court.
Authorities report that the 37-year-old was arrested for attempted murder and assault after an incident involving gunfire exchanged with police at a hotel in Anchorage.
During a news conference, Anchorage Police Chief Mark Mew expressed his speculation regarding Jason Barnum’s motives for firing at officers from the bathroom of a hotel room.
Mew stated that Barnum, a heroin user, appeared to exhibit signs of drug use following the incident, which occurred last week.
“It’s unusual for someone to just start shooting from behind a door,” Mew remarked. “And naturally, they reacted promptly.”
Reports indicate that a police officer involved in the burglary investigation sustained injuries during the gunfire exchange.
Following treatment for a gunshot wound to his arm, Jason Walter Barnum was arrested.
Subsequently, the heavily tattooed man from Anchorage was placed on a cash-only bail set at $500,000.
At the time, three officers were looking into vehicle break-ins and burglaries occurring in south Anchorage.
Having not worked in the previous six months, Barnum was assigned a public defender.
by Sasha Dubronitz
