Anchorage police officers responded to a disturbance call early Monday that resulted in the fatal shooting of a man after he pointed a gun at them, according to Police Chief Bianca Cross.
Chief Cross stated that four officers discharged their weapons, striking the adult male at least once in the upper body. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, an apartment complex in west Anchorage. Fortunately, no officers were injured during the incident.
The police were initially called to respond to a disturbance between a man and a woman at the complex. Prior to the officers' arrival, it was reported that the man had left the apartment and was outside with a long gun.
Upon approaching the complex on foot, the officers fired their weapons when the man raised the gun toward them, Chief Cross explained. The entire shooting incident was captured on the officers' body cameras, which will be made public following the completion of the investigation.
Chief Cross refrained from providing further details about the incident due to the ongoing investigation. The state's Office of Special Prosecutions will be responsible for determining if the officers' use of deadly force was justified. Subsequently, the police department's internal affairs unit will conduct an investigation to ascertain if there were any policy violations during the shooting.
The four officers involved in the shooting have been placed on four days of paid administrative leave. Their identities will be disclosed three days after the incident. The name of the deceased man will be released once his next-of-kin have been notified, Chief Cross confirmed.
