STANDOFF ENDS: Suspect shoots self

WASILLA -- A man identified by a neighbor as Fred D. Heilman Jr., who barricaded himself inside his home for more than 23 hours after allegedly shooting to death neighbor Michael L. Zagars Sr., has shot himself, Alaska State Troopers report.

AST spokesman Audie Holloway, who was not the one to release Heilman's name, said the man was talking with a negotiator when he walked out of the front of his house and shot himself. Heilman, who troopers suspect killed Zagars about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, was still alive when emergency responders took him by ambulance to a nearby hospital. How serious his condition was not immediately known.

Troopers first responded to the house on East Porcupine Trail near the intersection of Wasilla-Fishhook and Seldon roads Saturday after receiving a report of a shooting.

Zagars, 49, of Wasilla was killed shortly before 5:30 p.m. Saturday, troopers report. Troopers were on the scene by 5:36 p.m. and quickly established contact with the shooting suspect by telephone. By that time, Heilman had barricaded himself in his house.

Because of the standoff, removal of Zagars' body was delayed until about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, troopers report, adding that upon arriving it was clear Zagars had not survived the shooting.

Heilman's next-door neighbor, Bob Mann, stood down the street after the standoff ended Sunday wondering when he would be allowed into his home. Mann said he and his wife stayed at the Grand View Inn and Suites last night after troopers stopped them from returning home.

Mann said Heilman was known around the neighborhood as a hermit.

"I try to avoid him," Mann said, adding that he, Heilman and Zagars used to be friends.

Seemingly knowing a confrontation was about to happen, Mann said he had warned Zagars about Heilman.

"I just kept telling Mike to stay away," he said, adding that Heilman was known to carry guns on his person.

What triggered Saturday evening's shooting is unclear, but multiple neighbors said Heilman seemed to have a problem with Zagars' dogs.

Heilman was in contact with a negotiator throughout the standoff, Holloway said, adding AST’s goal was to resolve the standoff without further incident.

“We’re hoping we can talk him into coming out,” Holloway said prior to the suspect shooting himself. “We’re going to stay here as long as we need to, even if that means it takes several days.”

Although area residents had been contacted by troopers and warned of a dangerous situation in their neighborhood, there were no mandatory evacuations of the area, said AST spokeswoman Megan Peters; however, residents who chose to leave were not allowed to return while the standoff was in progress. Those residents are now being allowed back into their homes.

A loud popping sound heard coming from Heilman's house mid-afternoon on Sunday was not gunfire, Holloway said. It was law enforcement popping a tire on the suspect’s vehicle so he couldn’t potentially make a dash for his vehicle and drive away.

Zagars’ family didn’t learn of his death until about 10 a.m. Sunday, said his step-daughter Sara, who declined to give her last name. She also confirmed her step-father and the suspect have been feuding, and said Zagars had filed several police reports about the suspect.

Neighbors said Zagars was married just a few days ago in Las Vegas.

Robert DeBerry and Greg Johnson contributed to this report.