The Latest: Warrant issued for highway shooting suspect

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Latest on the closure of the Seward Highway (all times local):

3:30 p.m.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a man suspected of firing shots south of Anchorage, leading law enforcement officers to close the Seward Highway for more than 12 hours.

Alaska State Troopers are seeking 36-year-old Kevin Thibodeau on a warrant charging him with assault and weapons misconduct.

Troopers just before 8:30 p.m. Wednesday took a report of an armed man near Beluga Point. As troopers and police approached the popular pullout at the point, the man fired a handgun.

Troopers and police closed the highway in response.

Troopers brought in a SWAT team and officers Thursday morning began a ground search.

Thibodeau could not be found.

The Seward Highway was reopened at just before 9:30 a.m.

Troopers say people with information about Thibodeu’s location should call them or Anchorage police.

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12:15 p.m.

The Seward Highway just south of Anchorage is open again.

The highway to the Kenai Peninsula was closed by Anchorage police Wednesday night as they responded to reports of a distraught, armed man.

Police say the man fired shots and threatened another person.

Police closed the highway between Beluga Point and McHugh Creek.

Anchorage television station KTUU (http://bit.ly/2o0faH8) reports the highway reopened late Thursday morning but police have not released details on the whereabouts of the armed man.

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7:30 a.m.

The only highway connecting Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula continues to be closed as Anchorage police deal with a man with a gun.

Anchorage police just before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday announced they were closing the Seward Highway because of a distraught, armed man who had fired shots and threatened another person.

The highway remained closed through 5 a.m. Thursday between McHugh Creek and Beluga Point.

Police and Alaska State Trooper SWAT teams are positioned at Mile 110 Seward Highway.

The closure is between Anchorage and Girdwood. A spokeswoman for the Anchorage School District says Girdwood Elementary School will open as usual but there will be no bus service because of the closure.