Wasilla man held on suspicion of murder in shooting death

WASILLA, Alaska – A Wasilla man was taken into custody on suspicion of second-degree murder after he told police officers he had harmed a family member.

Denys Abramov, 38, was held Tuesday in the death of his mother, Olha Abramova, 60, of Wasilla, according to Wasilla Police Department spokeswoman Amanda Graham. Olha Abramova was found with a gunshot wound to her chest, police said in an announcement.

Denys Abramov remained jailed Tuesday afternoon at Mat-Su Pretrial Facility in Palmer. Online court documents do not list his an attorney for him who could be contacted for comment.

Police said Abramov at 4 a.m. Tuesday appeared at the Wasilla Police Department and contacted officers. He was carrying a handgun and he had blood on his hands, police said.

Abramov told officers he had harmed a family member. Responding officers searched in a neighbourhood on Wasilla’s north side and found the body of Olha Abramov.

Charges of second-degree murder and weapons misconduct will be forwarded to the district attorney’s office, police said.