Death by Cop  2022-2024

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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17

James V. Afuvai

Age :24

Gender :Male

Race : Native Pacific Islander

Date : 09/29/2024

Location : 500 block of N. Park Street

City : Anchorage

County : Anchorage

State : Alaska

Agency : Anchorage Police Department

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during mental health crisis

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

An Anchorage PD officer arrived at a mental health call involving a man with a knife. Police alleged that the man walked toward him with a knife, and the officer shot and killed him. Afuvai is the second Samoan native shot and killed by Anchorage PD within 6 weeks.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/09/30/1-dead-anchorage-officer-involved-shooting/

Easter Leafa

Age :16

Gender :Female

Race : Native Pacific Islander

Date : 08/13/2024

Location : 4840 East 43rd Avenue

City : Anchorage

County : Anchorage

State : Alaska

Agency : Anchorage Police Department

Officer(s) : Alexander Roman

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police in mental health crisis

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Anchorage PD were called to an apartment at 4840 E. 43rd Ave. where a teenage girl in some sort of mental health crisis had threatened a sibling. Police arrived, alleged that the girl held a knife, feared for their lives and fired both live munitions as well as 40 mm rounds at her simultaneously, killing her. The girl was about to start middle school.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2024/08/14/suspect-dead-after-shooting-involving-police-in-east-anchorage-police-say/

Steven Kissack

Age :35

Gender :Male

Race : White

Date : 07/15/2024

Location : Front Street

City : Juneau

County : Juneau Borough

State : Alaska

Agency : Juneau Police Department

Officer(s) : Chris Gifford

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Unhoused man killed by police

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Steven Kissack had been unhoused in Juneau, Alaska for more than a decade. Article linked below describes his life on the street. He and his malamute were popular. He was known to be helpful and a source of support to the unhoused community in town. He had experienced an incident in June of 2021 in which a Juneau PD officer arrested him for shoplifting a 68-cents drink can, claiming he had a bladed weapon of some sort. Document linked below. Kissack strongly disputed the police narrative but was held without bail until the incident was resolved in unknown manner. Documents how it ended cannot be found at this time.

On July 16, 2024, the same Juneau PD confronted him on a sidewalk, fired beanbags at him, again claim that he had a knife and several officers opened fire and shot and killed him. Only the police narrative exists. The description of the shooting matches the previous police allegations that Kissack had contested as false narrative.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://dailydispatch.dps.alaska.gov/Home/DisplayIncident?incidentNumber=AK24069198

The Shooting:
https://www.juneauempire.com/news/steven-kissack-homeless-resident-known-for-cannine-companion-juno-shot-downtown/

2021 similar police Incident involving the same PD:
https://juneau.org/police/jpd-psa-individual-view/entry/76379

2023 news article about Steven Kissack months prior to his killing:
https://www.juneauempire.com/news/just-a-typical-christmas-eve-among-homeless-friends-on-front-street/

Friends remember Steven Kissack:
https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/07/17/juneau-community-members-reflect-life-well-known-homeless-man-fatally-shot-by-officers-trooper/

https://www.facebook.com/people/Steven-Kissack/100009280245117/?paipv=0&eav=AfZCXQs23UrJPJKjSCkRwQEy9xkyReuTJCSizxNYm2xw6JyIgcjskM95-ems8qgqPcs&_rdr

Kirk Medak

Age :67

Gender :Male

Race : White

Date : 07/08/2024

Location : South Kasilof Beach

City : South Kasilof Beach

County : Kenai Peninsula Borough

State : Alaska

Agency : Alaska State Police

Officer(s) : Gabriel Holman

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police when pointing harpoon

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Alaska State Police were sent to Kasilof Beach where Kirk Medak was allegedly threatening someone with a harpoon. Police arrived and shot and killed him.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/07/08/man-who-charged-officers-with-harpoon-shot-killed-by-state-troopers-authorities-say/

Lisa Fordyce-Blair

Age :58

Gender :Female

Race : White

Date : 06/20/2024

Location : Muldoon

City : Anchorage

County : Anchorage

State : Alaska

Agency : Anchorage Police Department, SWAT

Officer(s) : Jonathan Butler

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Found shot dead under unclear circumstances during SWAT standoff

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Anchorage PD were called to a Muldoon home where a woman in a mental health crisis was holding a rifle. Police arrived and the woman retreated. SWAT pressured her for hours and when police breached the home, they found her dead. Police did not comment how she died. This was the fourth police shooting in Anchorage in the last month.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2024/06/20/woman-found-dead-in-east-anchorage-home-after-long-standoff-with-police-involving-gunfire/

https://alaskapublic.org/2024/06/20/womans-death-in-muldoon-standoff-investigated-as-officer-involved-shooting/

Tyler J. May

Age :21

Gender :Male

Race : White

Date : 06/03/2024

Location : E 19th Ave and Karluk St

City : Anchorage

County : Matanuska-Susitna Borough

State : Alaska

Agency : Anchorage Police Department

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during “shots fired” call

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Anchorage PD followed up on a “shots fired” call, found 2 men with guns. They arrested one and the other did not drop his weapon. Police shot and killed him.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.anchoragepolice.com/news/ois-investigation-at-1300-e-19th-avenue?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3xqRyoNhBC4QP7jT7TCEmjA1ZF9Mtorz9mddObE8Ol_uHQEoVelU8nulU_aem_AeaSmEb3jmchmiG-oDxQnPcgH8cWPOw-VXoHVuD9R3r0jsgg7Tnoh4oUL2-SoZUqgfEaE3NXnIe-n99Qeh7H-dob

Bodycam:
https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/09/05/police-body-cam-footage-deadly-tyler-may-shooting-released/

Kristopher K. Handy

Age :

Gender :Male

Race : Native Alaskan

Date : 05/13/2024

Location : 7100 block of Bearfoot Drive

City : Anchorage

County : Anchorage

State : Alaska

Agency : Anchorage Police Department

Officer(s) : Jacob Jones, Jacob Ostolaza, Noel Senoran, James Stineman

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during disturbance call

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Anchorage PD were sent to a domestic disturbance in which a man was seen with a long gun. Police arrived, claim he pointed a gun and shot and killed him. Eyewitnesses, video footage and local media dispute the police story, documenting that he never pointed a gun at police.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.anchoragepolice.com/news/officer-involved-shooting-investigation-on-the-7100-block-of-bearfoot-drive

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/05/16/he-never-pulled-gun-up-neighbors-release-video-man-shot-killed-by-anchorage-police/

Timothy John McArdle Jr.

Age :31

Gender :Male

Race : Native Alaskan

Date : 12/27/2023

Location : Turner Street

City : Fairbanks

County : Fairbanks North Star Borough

State : Alaska

Agency : Fairbanks PD

Officer(s) : Unknown

Cause of Death : Unknown

Event : Killed by police during domestic violence call

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Fairbanks police were called to a domestic violence situation on Turner Street and found 31-year-old Timothy McArdle agitated and throwing things out of the window. Police attacked him with nonlethal munitions. The situation worsened and he was handcuffed and died. Police refused to say which “nonlethal means” they attacked him with preceding his death.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://alaskapublic.org/2024/01/03/fairbanks-police-state-investigate-death-of-man-handcuffed-after-disturbance/

Gregory Green

Age :58

Gender :Male

Race : Unknown

Date : 07/23/2023

Location : Seward Hwy

City : Seward

County : Kenai Peninsula Borough

State : Alaska

Agency : Seward PD

Officer(s) : Unknown

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Passenger killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Seward PD allegedly saw a car driving erratically and escalated a chase. Alaska State Police soon joined them and both agencies hunted the car until it crashed, ejecting both passenger and driver. Passenger Gregory Green died.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2023/08/16/fairbanks-man-charged-deadly-pursuit-seward-highway/

Robert Nash

Age :40

Gender :Male

Race : Unknown

Date : 05/18/2023

Location : Not Disclosed

City : Point Hope

County : North Slope

State : Alaska

Agency : North Slope Borough PD

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police after shooting someone

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Robert Nash, 40, of Point Hope, had reportedly been shooting a rifle at people and buildings in the city.A North Slope Borough police officer responded to Point Hope and found Nash outside of the town, still armed with a rifle. He pointed it at the officer. The officer shot and killed him. No officers were charged.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2023/05/18/man-dead-after-officer-involved-shooting-point-hope/

https://alaskapublic.org/2023/05/18/police-officer-fatally-shoots-armed-man-in-point-hope/

Juan Martinez

Age :30

Gender :Male

Race : Latinx

Date : 04/16/2023

Location : Unknown

City : Vernon

County : Lamar

State : Alaska

Agency : Vernon PD, Lamar County SO

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Suicide under police duress

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Vernon PD and Lamar County deputies escalated a car chase that began in Alabama, crossed state lines into Lowndes County and ended back in Alabama where Juan Martinez, 30, committed suicide under police duress.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://cdispatch.com/news/2023-04-19/man-led-law-enforcement-on-multi-state-car-chase-sunday-before-shooting-himself/

https://www.wtva.com/news/man-dead-after-chase-with-lamar-county-alabama-authorities/article_f3c95db0-ddf8-11ed-8bd6-a726cb2932d8.html

Patrick Alexander

Age :20

Gender :Male

Race : Unknown

Date : 12/23/2022

Location : Cherokee Ave+Ravenswood Ave

City : Fairbanks

County : Fairbanks North Star Borough

State : Alaska

Agency : Alaska State Troopers

Officer(s) : Drew Massey, Giovanni Sommers

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during arrest

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Police allege that they were driving down the street and recognized a man who had outstanding warrants. He was carrying a long rifle, not unusual in Alaska, and police claim they ordered him to drop it and then shot and killed him. There is no record that he had used the rifle or threatened police.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/20-year-old-fairbanks-man-dies-in-trooper-shooting/article_1f0fdd74-83c6-11ed-af04-8fcf8da4fb06.html

https://news.yahoo.com/troopers-shot-killed-armed-20-145400671.html

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2022/12/26/man-shot-killed-by-troopers-fairbanks/

https://alaskapublic.org/2022/12/28/troopers-fatally-shoot-armed-fairbanks-man/

Carl Robert Aahanaq Ravenscroft

Age :34

Gender :Male

Race : Native Alaskan

Date : 10/12/2022

Location : Airport Way+Market St

City : Fairbanks

County : Fairbanks North Star Borough

State : Alaska

Agency : Fairbanks PD

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Drowning

Event : Drowned during police chase

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Carl Robert Aahanaq Ravenscroft drowned after being chased into a water-filled gravel pit by Fairbanks officers.
A Fairbanks officer believed 34-year-old Carl Ravenscroft had been drinking or using drugs and tried to traffic-stop him. He drove away when police tried to stop him. Police escalated a chase and he drove onto the end of a road into a steep gravel pit and his car was submerged in deep water. Police allege that he got out of the vehicle but went under the water’s surface as he tried to swim to the shore.He drowned.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/fairbanks/2022/10/12/man-drowns-after-driving-into-water-while-pursued-by-fairbanks-officers-police-say/

Jimmie Janeway

Age :63

Gender :Male

Race : Unknown

Date : 09/02/2022

Location : N Wasilla Fishhook Rd+Snohomish Ave

City : Wasilla

County : Matanuska-Susitna

State : Alaska

Agency : Alaska State Police, Wasilla PD

Officer(s) : Matt Sidders, David Burtch, Sawyer Skiba

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during investigation

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Alaska State Police together with Wasilla PD contacted Jimmie Janeway about a child sexual abuse investigation. Police claim that he pointed a gun both at himself and at officers. They shot and killed him.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.ketchikanradio.com/news/news-of-the-north/trooper-wasilla-officers-involved-in-friday-shooting-identified/

https://alaskapublic.org/2022/09/03/officers-shoot-and-kill-wasilla-man-during-standoff/

Amos Lane

Age :57

Gender :Male

Race : Native American

Date : 06/21/2022

Location : 23rd Ave + S Cushman St

City : Fairbanks

County : Fairbanks North Star

State : Alaska

Agency : Fairbanks PD, Alaska State Patrol

Officer(s) : Alex Valdez, Cody Kasper, Joshua Schoeffel, Dennis Benn, Lane Bonham

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Traffic stop

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Officers from Fairbanks PD and Alaska State Patrol traffic-stopped Amos Lane. Police allege he pointed a gun. Police shot and killed him.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2022/06/23/trooper-unarmed-victim-struck-by-officer-fire-during-fatal-fairbanks-shooting/

Paul Anthony Hardiman

Age :44

Gender :Male

Race : White

Date : 03/12/2022

Location : Unknown

City : County Rd 126

County : Lauderdale

State : Alaska

Agency : Lauderdale County SD

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during a welfare check

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Lauderdale County deputies were sent to a call to perform a welfare check on a person concerning possible abuse by caretaker. Police arrived and the caretaker, Paul Anthony Hardiman, pulled a rifle. Police shot and killed him.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.waff.com/2022/03/13/deputy-involved-shooting-investigation-underway-waterloo/

https://www.waaytv.com/news/tennessee-man-identified-as-suspect-killed-in-officer-involved-shooting-in-lauderdale-county/article_ea223a22-a26a-11ec-9a49-f33165019722.html

https://www.radio7media.com/news/investigation-continues-in-officer-involved-shooting-in-lauderdale-county/article_90a45a8c-a3cf-11ec-bc87-ab83cb7f3abb.html

https://whnt.com/news/alabama-news/authorities-identify-man-killed-by-lcso-deputies-in-waterloo/

Andrew John

Age :34

Gender :Male

Race : Native Alaskan

Date : 02/05/2022

Location : Not Disclosed

City : Aniak

County : Bethel Census Area

State : Alaska

Agency : US Marshals

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during arrest

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

US Marshals shot and killed Andrew John after he shot and injured a Marshal who tried to arrest him.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2022/02/05/law-enforcement-officers-shoot-and-kill-aniak-man-after-he-shoots-deputy-us-marshal-troopers-say/