After stand-up comedian and comedy club owner Matthew Becker was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he traveled thousands of miles from Arizona to Alaska to try and kill his ex-wife. The incident ended up with the wife’s father being murdered, while Becker also died himself.
Becker, 61, was charged with first-degree murder and third-degree assault after he attacked his ex-wife and his former father-in-law, Romaine Clark, during a shooting spree in Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday, March 14.
The Anchorage Police Department said that Becker was found dead one day later “in the woods” of Eagle River, according to a police press release.
It is not currently clear how Becker died. His brother said that he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer, according to Arizona’s Family. However, it’s not clear how long before the shooting he learned of his diagnosis.
Becker’s attempted killing of his ex-wife was detailed in a criminal complaint obtained by KTUU. The complaint stated that the woman called Anchorage Police and claimed that Becker “had just tried to shoot her.”
By the time officers reported to the scene, Becker had already fled.
The ex-wife told police she arrived at her salon and parked her car in front of the business, while Becker was in a vehicle parked directly next to her.
“[The woman] advised she began walking toward the entrance of the building to unlock the door,” the complaint stated. “As she passed the Silver Altima she observed the driver, Becker, seated in the driver’s seat. [The woman] advised she was unaware her ex-husband was in state as he moved to Arizona after their divorce.”
The woman tried to unlock the salon’s door, “but believed it had been tampered with as her key would not go into the lock.” The complaint then stated that Becker got out of his vehicle and started walking toward her.
“As Becker advanced toward her, she backed away,” the complaint said. “Becker utilized a pistol and began firing multiple shots at her as she ran from him in fear of losing her life.”
The woman ran away and hid until Becker left. Once he was gone, she called the police to report what happened. She told police she was worried about her father and believed he might be targeted, as well. Cops then went to check on Clark, who was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
Police believe that Becker went directly to his ex-wife’s house after he confronted her at the salon, which is when he likely shot Clark through a plate-glass window from outside of the home.
Becker’s brother said that he moved to Arizona after the couple divorced in 2020, per KTUU. He owned a comedy club called Chuckleheads in Bisbee, while he also appeared to perform stand-up at the club.
The Anchorage Police Department did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment.
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