Alaska Man Fatally Shoots Girlfriend While Handling Gun, Then Dies by Suicide

A 22-year-old Alaska man accidentally shot and killed his girlfriend while handling a firearm, then obtained another gun and died by suicide, according to Fairbanks police.

Landon Lowrance fatally shot 21-year-old CloeRae McBrayer at a residence on Bentley Drive in Fairbanks on Sept. 16, police said. Investigators believe Lowrance was handling a revolver when he pointed it at McBrayer and it discharged.

A friend immediately called 911 and told dispatchers that Lowrance had accidentally shot his girlfriend. The caller remained on the line while waiting for police and attempted to physically stop Lowrance after he obtained another firearm. Investigators said the friend was not involved in either shooting.

Officers arrived to find McBrayer dead at the home. Lowrance was critically injured and taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, where he later died.

Investigators Say the First Shooting Was Accidental

Police said they believe there was a single round in the revolver’s chamber, although investigators have not determined whether Lowrance knew the gun was loaded.

The case remains open pending a final report from Alaska’s state medical examiner. Police said much of what happened after the first shooting was captured by the 911 call, giving investigators a detailed account of the immediate aftermath.

Fairbanks Deputy Chief Richard Sweet described the deaths as a tragic and preventable loss of life. He urged people to treat every firearm as loaded and never point a gun at another person unless acting in lawful self-defense.

McBrayer Had Been Planning Her Future

McBrayer’s family said she had recently moved to Alaska after meeting Lowrance through a mutual friend. She had enrolled at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and planned to study education.

Her mother, Amanda Hooper, described her daughter as outgoing, caring and deeply devoted to her family and friends. McBrayer had also been interested in cosmetology, fashion and design and had competed in pageants and played sports while growing up in Alabama.

The couple had been discussing marriage, and family members said they had been planning to get engaged around the time of the shooting.

“We were planning their wedding,” McBrayer’s older sister, Lori Hunt, told local media.

Family Faces an Unthinkable Loss

McBrayer’s family has begun raising money to bring her body back to Alabama and cover funeral expenses.

Despite the circumstances of her daughter’s death, Hooper said she did not blame Lowrance’s parents, describing the tragedy as something beyond their control. She also said that she believed her daughter loved Lowrance and that he loved her.

The deaths have left two families mourning a young couple whose plans for marriage and the future ended in a devastating firearms accident.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shootings, with the medical examiner’s findings still pending.