Police say a Juneau man has been arrested for allegedly shooting another man in the face with a handgun.
The Juneau Police Department said in a release they arrested Kenneth Edward Nalan, 35, on Wednesday for second-degree assault, a class ‘B’ felony. The victim, John Nicholas Duran, 33, is in stable condition in a Seattle hospital, the release states.
The police investigation in the case is still ongoing, said Lt. Kris Sell, one of the investigating officers.
“We served a couple of search warrants, we’re still in the investigation phase, and there’s still work to be done because we haven’t spoken with the man who was injured yet,” Sell said in an interview at JPD headquarters Wednesday evening. “His medical condition is not going to allow us to do that right away. But we do consult with the district attorney during investigations like this, and we made the decision with the prosecutor to go ahead and arrest Kenneth Nalan for assault in the second degree.”
Police have not said what prompted the Tuesday night shooting, but Sell said Duran was an invited guest in Nalan’s home at the time of the assault. Nalan was hosting a small get-together at his residence, and alcohol was being consumed, she said.
“It was a small get-together that was still underway,” Sell said.
Duran was shot with a .357 handgun, she added.
Sell said the two men knew each other and described their relationship as “friends, but not close friends.”
“They were not strangers by any means,” she said.
JPD first responded to a report of a man shot at a home in the 3000 block of Glacierwood Drive, which is in Mendenhall Valley, at 10:39 p.m. Tuesday.
Officers found a man, later identified as Duran, with a gunshot wound to the face, the release stated. Capital City Fire and Rescue responded and took the man to Bartlett Regional Hospital.
BRH spokesman Jim Strader said the man was then medevaced to Harborview Medical Center, a Seattle hospital.
“He was in critical condition, and he was medevaced,” Strader said Wednesday, though his condition has since improved, according to the JPD statement.
Sell said the full extent of Duran’s injuries are unknown at this time.
“The injury is to the facial area, and we don’t know the full extent of the damage of Mr. Duran’s head,” she said. “We’re waiting to get some medical information about that. We do know that there was an entrance wound in the face.”
Police are still investigating the details of the case, but “we are confident in enough of the details to go ahead with the arrest,” Sell said. “... We’re confident that the assault in the second degree is an appropriate charge.”
Nalan was taken to Lemon Creek Correctional Center without bail, Sell said.
• Contact reporter Emily Russo Miller at 523-2263 or at emily.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (35)
Add commentwow
First guess: Attempted home robbery gone wrong? I've been waiting to hear a story about a break-in where someone breaks into the wrong house at the wrong time and gets blasted. Alcohol related though? hmmm, maybe they were after the egg nog stash?
Alcohol was involved, so it
Alcohol was involved, so it was more likely someone being a [filtered word].
Definition
com·pas·sion/kəmˈpaSHən/
Noun:
Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others: "the victims should be treated with compassion".
Synonyms:
pity - mercy - sympathy - commiseration - ruth - clemency
More info »Wikipedia - Dictionary.com - Answers.com - Merriam-Webster
Can't believe you people!
You people need counseling or some kind of therapy! You People don't even know what happened and you've already started with your snarky comments. I mean it's like you all feed on the misfortunes of others. What is it that makes you that way? Really, tell me so I know what to stay away from. When I first heard this, the first thing that entered my thoughts were I pray that this man will survive and how devastating it must be for his family. Have you no heart? Were you not held enough as a child? Why are you people so full of vile and contempt towards one another?
Sorry. Snark is all I know.
Sorry. Snark is all I know. You're right--it could just be an unfortunate accident or a suicide attempt or something else that doesn't involve stupidity or bad people.
I retract my statement.
Queen's English?
What's up with the British period placement in that definition (after the quotes) John?
Not just British
both colleges i went to taught 'logical quotes', they should surround the actual quote but not surround punctuation used by the quoting work, only those used by the quoted work. It preserves the intent of the original author by not falsly attributing to them marks added later and clarifies meaning.
I agree with Karinda
Some people in here must have crystal balls and see things no one else does.
And I wonder how these same people would feel if the victim was someone they loved.
At least PP retracted his statement. Normally, he has insightful, thought-provoking things to say. But not this time.
And there is no excuse for Marat's immature statement.
@ Rainpedaler
I didn't feel like editing the source, I just liked the definition's wording. In the paper we use AP Style and tuck our periods in before the quotation marks, but here on the comment board I was just making a quick point. (I wondered if anyone would catch that.)
I sure hope the victim will
I sure hope the victim will be okay and will have a quick and complete recovery.
What is stupidity then?
We do not know if it was an unfortunate accident or even a suicide attempt. The people who are jumping to that conclusion are accosting others in this forum for coming up with a different--though just as likely--scenario.
All we know is that alcohol and at least one loaded weapon was involved.
So, to address the data we have been given without conjecture: If mixing alcohol and loaded firearms is not stupidity, then what is?
btw, the ends do not justify the imbecility of the means...
Posted at 12:10pm - snarky
Posted at 12:10pm - snarky comments begun by 1:15pm - that may be a new record. Sad.
It seems to be the norm....
Snarkiness, that's all that is ever here now-a-days which is quite sad that Juneau has come to this. Is very disheartening! I remember when I first moved from Hoonah to Juneau in '83, I remember juneau appeared large to me but yet it was safe and friendly.....sad how much things have changed......
People u r sick
Some of you need to shove your comments and stop believing everything you read. This paper also prints things prematurely like they r going to get beat to the story by a rival paper. But oh wait there isn't another rival paper. Juneau empire needs to take the time and gather the correct information before publishing the article. Most of you who have commented have had compassion but to the ones who think he was a robber or low life think again he is one of my best friends. He is a hard working guy who helps everyone he can. Yes he was most likely drinking but I would like u all to answer this do u not drink? I am a non alcoholic person myself. I am sickened with what some have said. We point fingers and assume before we no. I say grow up and remember what our parents and grandparents taught us. Accidents happen. And I no he wasn't a robber or angered by alcohol. He has a job and takes it to the heart and very serious about it. So please stop reading what isn't there and respect the victim and pray he is ok. It could happen to anyone so please find compassion for everyone involved. Last thing I will say is I sit here worried my friend won't be ok and I read this and the comments that have been left and get sick just to hear and see who the real bad people r. All so disgusting to see what this world has came to.
Interestng reads
I seem to remember something taught long ago called innocent until PROVEN guilty.
Some want to trash the victim, some want to praise him. And some want compassion, love, and understanding.
At this time there are two victims, one in the hospital and one arrested.
It is assumed that because one was arrested that they are guilty of a crime. perhaps it was self-defense, and accident, a pact, who knows.
There are two suffering families and two individuals, The truth may come out, at least someone will be accused of something and after a trial maybe the truth will be known.
Until then grieve, have compassion, and have sympathy for everyone on both sides of the equation.
So Sorry
Adt1987, really sorry to hear about your friend. The truth will come out in the end. Your friend and the families involved will be in this poster's thoughts.
@Adt1987
Don't take the comments on here very seriously, some comments are posted with the intention of angering people or causing a stir for the entertainment of others. It comes with the territory of the internets.
Hope your friend makes a speedy recovery.
Yeah I dont know.
Did a little research last night on some of the names involved here. Some interesting facebook accounts out there for these guys. Nalan's got some.......Lets just say you should look at his pictures. Wonder if thats the same gun?
CubanB, You're a Better
You're a better sleuth than I...can't find a thing on either party.
Agreed
I know Nalan doesnt have an FB account. I couldnt find one for Duran, so whatever you are seeing is in your messed up head. So to everyone, you werent there--you dont know what happened--go makes comments elsewhere and remember THIS COULD BE YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS NEXTIME. You never know. Have some respect for family and friends involved.
To the person who asked if we
To the person who asked if we drink too, yes, I drink. But I don't pull put firearms and play around with them when I'm drunk. I'm 26 years old, and I can drink responsibly. Also, are you saying because he has a good job, that makes it ok to shoot people, or whatever it was that happened...? I'm not going to speculate, but if he was arrested for it then there must be more than we know.
That being said, I feel bad for both parties, I hope they both can recover from this...
Well said AlaskaMama
The whole situation would not have happened if somebody wasn't stupid enough to play with loaded weapons while drinking.
I hope the victim recovers. This is very unfortunate. I hope the police get to the bottom of this.
Best wishes for a full recovery.
Hey, Alaska Mom
I'm not positive, but I think that particular poster was saying that the VICTIM was a hard working fella. I don't think he was intending to defend the shooter. Anyway, sad situation.
You Don't Know
I wish people who are putting sarcastic comments on here would stop to consider how you would feel if this was your family. My heart is breaking over this, because it is my family. This was an accident and yes, they were drinking, but it was an accident none the less. Please use your power of prayer right now. Use this board to show support instead of stirring up more heartache. As for CubanB, you are a troll. Ken does not have fb. "John R Moses", thank you for showing the meaning of Compassion. I see some people didn't get it, but I hope some did.
I to said accident
To Alaska mama. I am not defending either of them accidents happen guns can discharge easily just cleaning it. And my friend is the one thy was shot. So have compassion and stop blaming and understand accidents happen and pray they all have a good ending. It seems some people on here thrive on the negative and hope for a drama filled bad ending. And fr the facebooks the victim doesnt have one. And what's said on fb or here isn't real life. So don't blame the victim or the shooter accidents happen and unless u can prove it wasn't anything more then that have compassion. I don't no statistics but I'm sure more then 90 percent of ak has some kind of gun at home so this could happen to anyone. I have seen others that just cleaning it thinking it wasn't loaded that it discharged on themselves. ACCIDENTS HAPPEN!!!
My uncle
Kenneth does not have a Facebook. This was an accident just so you all know.
My uncle is a good hard working guy and it was unfortunate what happened. I hope John pulls through and has a full recovery.
People really should just stop assuming and wait to hear what happened. I guess that's Juneau for you though.
Love you uncle.
Regardless
I can understand why people would have negative thoughts since the police rarely arrest someone and take them to jail due to an accidental discharge of a firearm. Regardless, what happened, happened and the only real fact known is that poor John took a bullet in his face. Damn John, I am so sorry to hear this and I pray that you have a speedy recovery. I know it does not seem like it, but eventually you will recover fully and we will share some laughs together over this. I know from experience that it is very hard to accept this, but you were very lucky. I know, getting shot is not being lucky, but getting shot and not getting killed is. Get well and come home soon. Merry Christmas Bro.
Thank You
KayDay, thank you for clarifying the situation. Hoping for the best outcome for all involved. You're in my thoughts today.
Does anybody have an update
Does anybody have an update on Mr. Duran's condition? I wish him a speedy recovery.
No problem
I know it is unfortunate that there was a gun involved with alcohol but I just want everyone to know that it was not intentional at all!!!
It was an obvious mistake with alcohol.
I do not have any updates on John but I truly hope he is well and makes a full recovery.
He will be in my prayers...