Last updated at 5:05 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12
One person was killed, and one police officer was taken to a local hospital with injuries following a shooting early Saturday morning, according to a release from the Anchorage Police Department. Police said the shooting was an ambush-style attack on the officer.
“At 4:36 a.m. an officer reported to dispatch that shots were fired and medics needed to respond to the area of Fifth Avenue and Cordova Street,” APD spokeswoman Jennifer Castro said in a statement. “It was reported to dispatch that another officer had been shot and a male had been shot as well.”
The wounded officer was taken to a nearby hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, Castro said, adding that police Chief Chris Tolley visited the hospital to check their condition.
“The officer is currently undergoing emergency surgery and is expected to survive,” she wrote.
Multiple units responded to the scene of the shooting, where a dead male was found, according to Castro.
“A preliminary investigation found that an officer was responding in their patrol car to a report of a theft suspect who was on foot in the area of Fifth Avenue and Cordova,” Castro said of the shooting. “As the officer was initiating a stop, a male brandishing a gun approached the patrol car and started firing at the officer.”
That officer was shot multiple times and returned fire, she continued. Another officer arrived as the gunfire occurred and fire on the suspect as well.
“Additional officers responded and rendered aid to the injured officer and the suspect,” she stated.
As of 7:30 a.m., Fifth Avenue is blocked from Denali Street to Barrow Street as authorities investigate the incident.
When asked why police called the shooting an ambush, she said, “it was a surprise to the officer to have the suspect brandish a gun and start shooting at the officer. It also appeared that the suspect intended to shoot and kill the officer.” She stated that police believe the initial call that brought the officer to the area was real.
“We still not have confirmed whether or not the suspect shooter in this case was actually the suspect that had been involved in the theft call or just happened to be in that area,” she wrote.
As with all other officer-involved shootings, the state Office of Special Prosecutions will investigate the early morning shooting to determine if the actions of the officers involved were justified. APD’s Office of Internal Inspections will also investigate.
At a press conference, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz identified the wounded officer as a male, but no further information was given on his identity.
“Following department policy, both officers who discharged their weapons have been placed on four days of administrative leave and their names will be released 72 hours following the event,” Castro added.
In a video addressing the public, Tolley thanked the public for the support he said the department has already received.
“I want to also tell the community I saw the video of this incident,” Tolley said in the video. “It’s horrific. It is really sad. It’s very troubling, but I’m so proud of our officers in that… they were able to apprehend this individual and keep anyone else from being hurt, and that these men and women are out on the streets of Anchorage each and every day and night protecting our citizens.”
The head of the Anchorage Police Department Employees Association agrees. Sgt. Gerard Asselin told KTVA, “it’s created an inability for our officers to proactively respond to crime, and it’s created this situation where criminals are able to act out in a, unfortunately, relatively unabated fashion.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz praised the work of the city’s officers.
“When we hear sirens, it’s a reminder somebody’s heading into danger, and they’re doing it to keep everyone safe,” Berkowitz said at the press conference.
This is a developing story; please check back for updates.
The post Police: 1 dead, 1 officer injured in ambush-style shooting appeared first on KTVA 11.
