In a tragic sequence of events on March 14, 2026, Romaine F. Clark, an 87-year-old man, was killed in his Anchorage, Alaska, home. The incident was part of a violent rampage by his former son-in-law, 61-year-old Mathew Thomas Becker, who was reportedly diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The day's violence began when Becker ambushed his ex-wife outside her hair salon. He appeared in a vehicle next to hers as she arrived for work and opened fire as she tried to unlock the business's doors.
The woman managed to escape and hide, immediately calling 911 to express her fear for her father's safety.
Shortly after the 9:30 a.m. phone call, officers arrived at Romaine Clark's residence on Alder Drive. There, they were met by friends of Clark who had become concerned when he didn't come out to meet them. The friends had entered the home and discovered his body. Police found that Becker had fired several rounds through a plate-glass window at the rear of the house, striking and killing Clark.
Following the shootings, the Anchorage Police Department launched a manhunt for Becker, who was charged with first-degree murder and third-degree assault. The search came to an end the following day, on March 15, when Becker was found deceased in a wooded area in Eagle River, about 15 miles from Anchorage. His death was caused by a gunshot wound, though the manner of death was not immediately released. Becker's ex-wife reported that she was unaware he had returned to Alaska from Arizona, where he owned a comedy club, following their divorce.
