A 34-year-old White male, Josiah Michael Goecker, died on October 23, 2023, in Anchorage, Alaska, after being shot in a violent confrontation at his workplace. Goecker, who was the community director of the Alpine Apartments, was in the leasing office of the complex when a tenant, Jesse Lee Jones, approached complaining about a notice of non-renewal on his lease. Goecker had posted the notice earlier that same day because Jones's name was not on the lease agreement.
Officers responded later that day to a shooting report and found Goecker inside the leasing office with a gunshot wound in the upper body; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to charging documents, the incident escalated when Jones entered the office and confronted Goecker and another employee about the notice. Jones allegedly drew a handgun, attempted to fire it, but the gun malfunctioned. A struggle ensued between Jones and Goecker over the weapon. Jones removed the magazine, fixed the malfunction, then fired multiple times, hitting Goecker. Another employee in the office witnessed the event, feared for her life, and later reported that Jones had threatened to also shoot her.
After the shooting, Jesse Lee Jones fled the scene. Anchorage Police, including SWAT and other specialized units, deployed in response and searched the area. He remained at large for several days. On October 26, 2023, Jones was arrested without incident by Alaska State Troopers near Meadow Lakes, just outside Wasilla, during their response to a verbal disturbance. He was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for the murder of Josiah Goecker and related charges.
At trial, Jones, who was 28 years old at the time, was convicted in February 2025 of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, third-degree assault, and tampering with physical evidence, for his role in Goecker's death. In July 2025, a judge sentenced Jones to a total of 77 years in prison.
