UPDATE: Suspect identified in Anchorage mall knife, sword fight
A 22-year-old suspect has been identified as the man arrested while carrying an ax and swords, in connection to a knife and sword fight inside the 5th Avenue Mall in downtown Anchorage.
According to police, the suspect is Frankie Warner-Willhoit. He was charged with assault and taken to jail, in addition to an outstanding felony warrant, APD said in a Nixle.
In the timeline laid out by police, Warner-Willhoit reportedly got into a verbal argument with another man.
That man left after mall security broke up the argument, but he came back a short time later. That's when, APD reports, Warner-Willhoit stabbed him with a knife.
The victim was able to slash Warner-Willhoit with one of Warner-Willhoit's own swords, and the knife-on-sword combat continued down to the third floor.
One man in injured and another in custody after a stabbing at the 5th Avenue Mall Sunday evening.
It all started when the two men, whom Anchorage police say knew each other, got into an argument in the mall's food court, which is on the fourth floor. Police say mall security officers intervened and escorted one of the men (who police say later became the victim) off the property.
That man returned and confronted the suspect male again in the food court. Police say the suspect then drew a knife and stabbed the victim once in the upper body.
The victim was then able to grab a sword from the suspect, swing it at him and cause a superficial wound on the suspect's leg, according to police. The two continued their confrontation down to the third floor where they separated.
At this point, two police officers on foot patrol in the mall's parking garage came into contact with the suspect, who was carrying an ax and swords. He ran, but the officers were able to catch him and take him into custody.
Police say wounds are non-life-threatening and that there are no other injuries. The victim was transported to the hospital for treatment.
The suspect's name and charges will be available Monday.
