Crime & Courts

Man arrested after gunfire at Homer reproductive health clinic is indicted on new charges

A 30-year-old Anchor Point man arrested in connection with shots fired at a Homer reproductive health clinic earlier this month now faces additional charges of terroristic threatening and assault.

Josiah Kelly was initially charged with second-degree weapons misconduct and criminal mischief associated with two separate incidents involving shots fired from a pickup at the Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic on Nov. 11. There was no one in the clinic at either time, officials have said. The early morning and evening incidents occurred before and after anyone was in the building.

Kelly was also arrested in connection with shots fired last month into a building being used by Kachemak Bay Recovery Connection.

No one was injured in any of the three shootings, prosecutors say.

A Kenai grand jury on Wednesday indicted Kelly on new charges of second-degree terroristic threatening and three counts of third-degree assault.

The assault charge stems from the presence of a woman and two children in a home near the family planning clinic who heard the shots and crouched down in fear of injury, according to prosecutors and the indictment.

The grand jury also indicted Kelly on charges of first-degree misconduct involving a weapon to reflect accusations he fired at the clinic from his pickup, prosecutors say.

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Kelly’s public defender could not be reached on Wednesday.

Kelly told police he carried out the shootings “for religious beliefs,” according to a criminal complaint filed earlier this month. Clinic staff told officers he “had recently canceled their trash service due to him not agreeing with family planning,” it said. Kelly was affiliated with RRR Trash and Recycling.

Kelly was a clinic contractor until mid-September when the company stopped providing services, “expressing their adamant opposition to the healthcare we have provided for over 40 years,” the clinic said in a statement last week, adding that the clinic has met with police to discuss security. “We have been bracing ourselves for potential violence targeting the agency’s reproductive health services for some time. Two shooting incidents on one day was shocking.”

Kelly remained in custody at Wildwood Pretrial Facility on Wednesday. A judge last week set his bail at $350,000 with numerous conditions of release to a third party including a mental health assessment and no weapons possession.

Zaz Hollander

Zaz Hollander is a veteran journalist based in the Mat-Su and is currently an ADN local news editor and reporter. She covers breaking news, the Mat-Su region, aviation and general assignments. Contact her at zhollander@adn.com.

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