On the morning of August 31, 2026, in Juneau, Alaska, the families of 16-year-old Zoey Clark, a Caucasian female, and 16-year-old Leotis Phillips began their day with a sense of unease that would soon turn to tragedy. Phillips was reported missing from his Kanata Street home shortly before 6:00 a.m., and a few hours later, at approximately 8:49 a.m., Clark was reported missing from her residence on Teal Street.
The Juneau Police Department issued a public appeal for help in locating the two teenagers, expressing concern as they believed the pair were together and might be in possession of a firearm. The community held its breath, hoping for the safe return of the two high school students.
The search for Zoey and Leotis came to a devastating end that same afternoon. At around 2:25 p.m., their bodies were discovered in a wooded area above the 6800 block of Glacier Highway. Preliminary information released by the Juneau Police Department indicated that both teenagers had died from gunshot wounds. A firearm was located at the scene, adding a grim layer to the unfolding tragedy. The bodies of both teens were sent to the Alaska State Medical Examiner's Office in Anchorage for autopsies to be performed. The news sent a shockwave of grief through the tight-knit community of Juneau, leaving friends, family, and classmates to grapple with the sudden and violent loss of two young lives.
In the aftermath of the discovery, the Juneau School District made counseling and support services available to students and staff to help them cope with the tragic event. More than 150 people gathered for a candlelight vigil to remember and honor the lives of Zoey and Leotis. During the vigil, friends and family shared memories of the two teenagers. Zoey was remembered as an artistic and caring individual, while Leotis was described as a funny and loyal friend. The investigation into their deaths remains ongoing, with law enforcement not yet releasing information on the circumstances that led to the fatal gunshots. As the community mourns, many questions remain unanswered, leaving a profound sense of loss and a search for understanding in the wake of this tragedy. The case, as it stands, is an active investigation into the deaths of two teenagers by gunshot, with a firearm recovered at the scene and no suspects publicly identified.
