Anchorage police confirmed a man died after inflicting a fatal wound on himself following a vehicle stop Saturday evening. Authorities said police officers and firefighters first responded around 5:30 p.m. to a fire incident on Rollins Drive in Anchorage.
Investigators quickly identified the suspect and his vehicle, linking him to the reported blaze in the residential neighborhoods. Later, officers located the suspect driving along the Glenn Highway and attempted a traffic stop, but the man refused compliance.
Police then used vehicle tactics near the Forth Richardson exit, forcing the suspect’s car to stop amid weekend highway traffic. Once halted, the suspect produced a weapon and fatally wounded himself before officers could attempt to negotiate or de-escalate the situation.
Police officers immediately administered CPR, continuing lifesaving efforts until fire department medics arrived and officially took over medical procedures at the scene. Despite their efforts, officials pronounced the man dead on site, according to statements released by the Anchorage Police Department on Sunday.
The incident occurred during the busy Labor Day weekend, drawing a heavy emergency response and temporarily closing outbound Glenn Highway lanes. Motorists experienced significant delays as police secured the highway, rerouted traffic and investigated the circumstances surrounding the fatal self-inflicted injury Saturday night.
Drivers described long backups and flashing emergency lights across the roadway, illustrating the intensity of law enforcement’s presence at the scene. Officials confirmed the arson investigation continues with detectives examining evidence from Rollins Drive while reviewing details related to the suspect’s sudden death.
