Alaska Man Claims He Shot Grandmother to End Her Worries in Disturbing Murder Case
In a deeply troubling case that has shocked the Fairbanks community, a 29-year-old man stands accused of fatally shooting his 87-year-old grandmother while she sat in her wheelchair, allegedly telling police he wanted her to die "peacefully" without worries about her legacy.
Chilling Details Emerge in Court Documents
Brian Davenport appeared via livestream at Fairbanks Courthouse this week to face a single count of first-degree murder in the death of Velma Koontz. According to court records obtained by local media, Davenport reportedly told investigators he "didn't want her to worry" about the legacy she would leave behind, comparing his actions to "pulling the plug" on a person.
The victim was discovered by her husband, Keith Koontz, who returned from a trip to the store to find his handgun outside their home and his wife deceased inside the residence, still seated in her wheelchair with a gunshot wound to the back of her head.
Family Expresses Safety Concerns in Court
During Wednesday's court appearance, the deceased woman's son, George Koontz, urged the court not to release the suspect, citing serious concerns about his behavior and potential danger to the public. "He's a danger to the public," George Koontz stated firmly. "Obviously, he assaulted his mother last summer and now my mother."
Fairbanks police officers were called to the home in the 1000 block of 22nd Avenue at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday after Keith Koontz reported finding his wife dead. Upon arrival, officers made contact with Davenport, who immediately stated that he had killed someone.
Suspect's Disturbing Admission to Police
According to police reports, Davenport was transported to Fairbanks Police Department for questioning where, after being advised of his rights, he admitted to stealing his grandfather's handgun and killing his grandmother. He revealed that he had initially planned to kill someone else but changed his mind and targeted his grandmother instead.
"Davenport reportedly told investigators that he wanted his grandmother to die 'peacefully' and said he 'didn't want her to worry about the legacy she left behind,'" police wrote in their official news release detailing the case.
Medical Context and Investigation Details
Detectives later learned that Koontz had been diagnosed with cancer and was under hospice care at the time of her death. Fairbanks Police Chief Ron Dupee commented on this aspect of the case, stating, "The grandma obviously had some health issues, whether that was the motivation behind the killing, we don't know."
Charging documents obtained by local media reveal that less than an hour before Koontz's body was discovered, Davenport had called 911 and provided an address but failed to respond to the dispatcher's questions. An officer subsequently located Davenport pacing erratically along the side of a roadway.
Current Legal Status and Next Steps
Davenport was initially transported to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital before being taken into police custody. He has since been booked into the Fairbanks Correctional Center where he is being held on a substantial $5 million bail amount. The suspect is scheduled to return to court on January 30 for further proceedings in this deeply disturbing case that continues to unfold with new details emerging from official documents and court appearances.
