A 29-year-old man from Alaska has been taken into custody following the disturbing discovery of his grandmother’s death, who was found shot while seated in her wheelchair earlier this week.
Brian Davenport allegedly confessed to authorities that he initially intended to take the life of someone else after stealing his grandfather’s firearm. However, he altered his plan and instead fatally shot 87-year-old Velma Koontz in the back of her head, as reported by KTUU.
According to Koontz’s husband, he had briefly left their home for a store visit. Upon his return, he discovered his handgun lying outside and tragically found his wife deceased inside the house.
Just under an hour prior to this grim discovery, Davenport reportedly contacted 911, provided an address, but then fell silent, refusing to engage further with the dispatcher. Police officers later encountered him pacing along the roadside, exhibiting “careless behavior,” which included dangerously walking into traffic. He was subsequently taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital for evaluation.
After the police were informed of Koontz’s death and Davenport’s potential involvement, an officer approached Davenport at the hospital regarding the incident. It was then that Davenport admitted to the officer that he was responsible for killing someone.
Once police learned about Koontz’s death and Davenport’s connection, the officer who brought him to the hospital asked him about it. He replied that he had killed someone.
Davenport was brought in for questioning. He admitted stealing his grandfather’s gun and killing his grandmother after he was read his rights. He reportedly told detectives that he wanted his grandmother to go peacefully without worrying “about the legacy she left behind,” according to the charging documents. He compared his decision to shoot her in the back of the head to “pulling the plug.”
Police later learned that Koontz was in hospice care and had cancer.
Davenport was charged with first degree murder and was ordered held on a $5 million bail.
