Anchorage police shot a man on Friday afternoon after being shot at. The entire incident was captured on patrol car camera and Anchorage police body cams, the tapes of which will be released after the investigation into the shooting.
Unlike the last police-involve shooting this month, Mayor Suzanne LaFrance did not quickly issue an immediate apology to the man’s family. She has, evidently, determined this shooting to be justified, while she quickly determined the last one was not, even before there was an investigation.
It was 4:24 p.m. on Friday when officers were dispatched to the 200 block of N. Post Road, where a man was said to be threatening people with a gun. The group huddled inside a nearby building for safety from the man, who was reportedly riding a bike and looking for them.
When officers arrived at the scene, they contacted the people in the building who identified the suspect, who was still outside the business.
Officers left the business to approach the man, who hopped on his bike and fled. Officers got into their patrol cars and followed him, and instructed him to stop, but he did not. Finally, when they caught up with him, they ordered him to drop his weapon. Instead, he fired at the direction of an officer and a civilian vehicle nearby. Another officer returned fire and took the man to the ground, but he sat up and shot again, in spite of multiple commands. The man was shot again by police, and this time was subdued. He was taken to a hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries.
Later, it turned out that the man was wanted in connection with a deadly shooting at a homeless encampment on Aug. 22 at the 1000 block of E. 5th Avenue at Karluk Street. The suspected assailant left that scene on a bike, and police had set up a large search area and used a drone to try to locate the suspect, but were unsuccessful. The man who was shot was declared dead at the scene on Wednesday.
Watch Police Chief Sean Case describe the Friday incident here:
As with all officer-involved shootings, the officers are placed on four-day administrative leave and their names will be released after 72 hours. The State’s Office of Special Prosecutions will review the officers’ use of force and determine whether it was legally justified. Per city policy, once that has been completed, APD Internal Affairs will review the officers’ actions to confirm whether there was any violation of policy.
There have been 14 homicides in Anchorage and seven officer-involved shootings since May, Case said. For comparison, Seattle has had 30 homicides in all of 2024. Seattle has 749,256 residents to Anchorage’s 287,145 residents.
“Our officers are operating under extreme pressure and scrutiny,” he said. “And yet they continue to place themselves in danger and carry out the mission of keeping this community safe. The suspect from tonight’s shooting was, in fact, the suspect in yesterday’s homicide. Loss of life is always tragic. I want to express my gratitude to all of our officers for their unwavering commitment to this community.”
Has LaFrance apologized to the murder suspect yet?
Off to a great start, Anchorage.
Bet me he doesn’t live in a bum camp.
I don’t like to lose money.
The greater risk in the long term is that the new Ms. Mayor will start compelling large cash “settlements” for lawsuits to anyone with a grievance against the Muni. In addition to “solving” these problems, it would also be a way to funnel lots of taxpayer money to preferred interest groups and their lawyers. Without question, the Anchorage Assembly would cooperate in this effort. As for the taxpayers, who in the current Muni power structure cares about their interests? I can’t name anyone.
A tip of the cap to Anchorage Law enforcement -WELL DONE
Now yet to be sworn in Mayor LaFrance- stay out of police business until ALL THE FACTS ARE ON THE TABLE
Learn from your past indiscretion and be HUMBLE with lips sealed
“A tip of the cap to Anchorage Law enforcement -WELL DONE…….”
Seconded! Thank you, APD!
Anchorage is slowly becoming like San Francisco due to the liberals running the city. I hope people get out and vote as it’s the only way for us to get back to some sort of normal. Pray for our city and country. We desperately need divine intervention for our city, state and country. Also pray for our first responders.
Slowly?
Only half true.
Anchorage is becoming like all the Democrat/Socialist-run cities because we the voters of Anchorage elect and *reelect* the same ‘leaders’.
We should expect the same results as Seattle, San Francisco, Portland, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis.
We can look forward to racial division and hate, gang violence, uncontrolled public drug use and the criminal behavior that accompanies it, untreated mental illness, declining public education results, and growing profits in the ’nonprofit’ social service industry.
LaFrance…you are way over your head and you need to stay out of the law enforcement business! You made comments publicly without all the information.
Still don’t know why they have to release officers’ names. What good does it do? Does it help the case? No, all it does is place officers and their families in danger which I suppose is the goal.
LaFrance is thoroughly unqualified as Mayor.
Anchorage: BIG mistake!
Surprised Mayor Karen hasn’t flapped her yap to toss them under the bus yet
No, mayor LaFrance only does that if there is a sympathetic perpetrator, as it makes her seem benevolent and caring. I have long suspected that with this crowd “optics” is everything!
Don’t get me wrong the death of a 16 y/o is a tragedy, however from the reports I saw she posed a clear danger to others and the officers and would not yield at commands to do so.
The guy in this instance is from all appearances a criminal with a record and potentially HOMELESS. LaFrance will stay as far away from this a possible. This incident is a clear indictment on her policies on the assembly and now in the mayor’s chair, because try as she might, this guy can not be see as a “victim” to let off the hook for all and sundry misdeeds done.
Either APD officers are lousy shots, or they were way too skittish, allowing the guy to sit up and start shooting him again. I hope their idiot DEI officer was not a contributing factor in their decision making.
Saving taxpayer money.
Good aim.