FAIRBANKS - A road rage dispute Friday morning escalated into the fatal stabbing of a local man in front of his adult son and other witnesses, according to court documents.
Michael Bostic, 44, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 56-year-old Timothy Lund. He was denied bail during his arraignment on Saturday by Magistrate Nikole Schick, who cited the seriousness of the charge and Bostic’s extensive criminal history.
Lund was returning to his job at Frontier Outfitters from a supply run when he got into a traffic dispute with Bostic, according to charging documents. When Lund parked his Ford Ranger pickup behind the store, Bostic reportedly emerged from his Chevy Suburban, pulled up his shirt and displayed a sheathed knife.
Bostic was apparently angered by a gesture that Lund had made earlier, and according to a witness he said, “Why don’t you show me your finger again, old man?”
The comment was followed by “heated words” between the two men, followed by a pushing match that led to the two men falling to the ground. The victim’s son, Wally Lund, who also works at Frontier Outfitters, reportedly hit Bostic with a wooden broom handle during the scuffle and told him to get off his father.
Both men stood up after the fight, but Timothy Lund said he had been stabbed and fell back over. Witnesses reported seeing Bostic standing with a bloody knife in his hand.
Timothy Lund was taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from a stab wound to the lower abdomen soon afterward. Police say there’s no evidence Lund was carrying any weapons during the dispute.
Bostic, who a witness said took the first swing during the altercation, was held at gunpoint after a weapon was retrieved from inside the sporting goods store. The defendant reportedly said “he cut me off at the intersection” to the store employee while being held, although Bostic refused to talk to police.
Bostic has a lengthy criminal past, according to Assistant District Attorney Arne Soldwedel. His record includes convictions in California and Florida for a variety of crimes that include drug possession, assault, robbery, drunken driving and shooting at an occupied house. Soldwedel said Bostic has a previous assault conviction that includes the use of a knife.
He appears to have a more limited criminal record in Alaska. A defendant named Michael Bostick with the same birthdate was arrested on misdemeanor criminal mischief and drug charges in 2009, according to online court records.
Bostic didn’t enter a plea on Saturday and said he intends to hire his own lawyer. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 5.
The first-degree murder charge is punishable with a maximum of 99 years in prison.
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