Officer kills armed suspect during South Anchorage scuffle

An Anchorage police officer shot and killed an armed burglary suspect on Thursday afternoon during a brief struggle on the 12000 block of Industry Way.

The incident began at 10 a.m. when officers responded to a burglary at a business on Lore Road. By 1:25 p.m., police used technology and witness accounts to locate the suspect at the Carrs grocery store on Huffman Road. Surveillance cameras showed the man entering the store and exiting through a back door. An officer on foot made contact with the suspect. The two men began fighting and fell to the ground. The suspect fired one round as a second officer arrived. The second officer fired a round at 1:40 p.m., striking the man. Police provided medical aid at the scene, but the man was pronounced dead. No officers were injured.

Police Chief Sean Case said the interaction was very short. He noted that police had not yet reviewed all dashboard and body-worn camera footage. The shooting occurred outside a retail center that includes a sporting goods retailer, a physical therapy office, and a toy store. A tarp covered the body, and yellow caution tape cordoned off the parking lot. Police issued public alerts at 2:30 p.m. asking the public to avoid the area. Numerous marked vehicles were present in the lot mid-afternoon.

The department has not released the names of the suspect or the officers involved. APD typically identifies officers within 72 hours. This is the ninth officer-involved shooting in Anchorage this year, and the fifth that has resulted in a death. The Alaska Department of Law’s Office of Special Prosecutions will review the case to determine if the shooting was justified. Police will also conduct an internal investigation to check for policy violations.