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

Nov. 20—A 30-year-old Anchor Point man arrested in connection with the Homer reproductive health clinic shooting earlier this month now faces additional terroristic threats and assault charges.

Josiah Kelly was originally charged with second-degree weapon abuse and criminal mischief in connection with two separate incidents involving shots fired from a pickup at the Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic on Nov. 11. Officials said no one was at the clinic at either time. in question. The incidents in the early morning and evening hours occurred before and after anyone entered the building.

Kelly was also arrested last month in connection with a shooting into a building used by the Kachemak Bay Rescue Connection.

Prosecutors said no one was injured in any of the three shootings.

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

The assault charge stems from the discovery of a woman and two children at a home near a family planning clinic who heard gunshots and crouched down for fear of being injured, according to prosecutors and the indictment.

Prosecutors said the grand jury also indicted Kelly on a charge of first-degree criminal misconduct involving a weapon, mirroring the charges he brought to the clinic in his pickup truck.

Kelly’s attorney could not be reached Wednesday.

Kelly told police he carried out the attacks “because of religious beliefs,” according to a criminal complaint filed earlier this month. Clinic staff told officers that he had “recently canceled trash service due to his refusal to accept family planning.” Kelly was affiliated with RRR Refuse and Recycling.

Kelly was a clinic contractor until mid-September, when the company stopped providing service “expressing their resolute opposition to the health care we have provided for over 40 years,” the clinic said in a statement, which said the clinic had contacted police last week. to discuss security. “We have been bracing ourselves for potential violence targeting the agency’s reproductive health services for some time. Two shootings in one day was shocking.”

Kelly remained in custody Wednesday at the Wildwood Pretrial Facility. A judge last week set bail at $350,000, with conditions for a mental health evaluation and release to a third party, including not possessing a weapon.