Anchorage man sentenced for fatal shooting during robbery

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A 20-year-old Anchorage man who took part in an armed robbery and homicide has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Tommy Hunter Higgs III was sentenced Thursday in the death of Paula Zorawski on Sept. 22, 2016. He previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, robbery, evidence tampering and attempted burglary.

State prosecutors say Higgs and four others planned to rob a man of marijuana and money at an east Anchorage home and continued even though others were at the home.

Prosecutors say Zorawski responded to a knock on the door, stepped outside and was fatally shot in the neck. Twenty-year-old Yurel Nichols is awaiting trial on a first-degree murder charge in the case.

Superior Court Judge Michael Wolverton at sentencing said community condemnation of Higgs’ actions justified the 18-year sentence.