Brandon Keyon Moultrie, a 28-year-old Black / African American man and a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, was a decorated soldier and dedicated community volunteer. Originally from South Carolina, he was stationed at Fort Wainwright in Alaska, where he served as a logistical platoon leader. In addition to his military duties, which he began in 2013 before earning his commission in 2022, he volunteered at the Fairbanks food bank, local schools, and with the Girl Scouts.
Just days before his death, installation officials had recognized him for his service to the community. His colleagues remembered him as a cherished member of his battalion, with one officer stating, “His loss will leave a void in our hearts and our formation.”
In the early hours of Saturday, May 4, 2024, a night out in downtown Fairbanks ended in tragedy. Around 1:30 a.m., a fight broke out in the parking lot of the International Hotel and Bar, also known as the Big I. According to police, who reviewed witness statements and surveillance video, two men had been instigating altercations. When one of them, Sharif Makkar, was knocked to the ground by a person he was fighting, his companion, Shamar Snipes, pulled out a handgun and began firing into the lot. Brandon Moultrie was an uninvolved bystander who had only walked up to the group moments before. As the shots rang out, he turned to run but was struck by a bullet in the back of the head.
Emergency responders rushed Moultrie to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. He succumbed to his injuries the next day, on Sunday, May 5, 2024. The Army announced his death, with his brigade commander, Col. Derek Smith, saying, “His passing is a profound loss to our community and all those that knew him and he will be dearly missed. Our hearts go out to the Moultrie family during this incredibly difficult time.”
Fairbanks police apprehended two suspects shortly after the shooting. Investigators reported that after Snipes fired the initial shots, he and Makkar left the area on foot but returned moments later. At that point, Makkar also fired a gun toward people in the parking lot. The pair fled again but were quickly caught by officers nearby. Police arrested 21-year-old Shamar Rashied Terrill Snipes and 27-year-old Sharif Makkar.
Snipes was initially booked on a charge of first-degree assault. On May 6, 2024, after Moultrie’s death, the charge was amended to second-degree murder. Makkar was charged with third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, and two counts of weapons misconduct. As of May 2024, both men were in custody at the Fairbanks Correctional Center as their cases proceeded.
