Early Christmas morning, a Juneau Police officer fatally shot a woman armed with a hatchet outside a convenience store. According to Deputy Police Chief Krag Campbell, the Juneau Police shooting occurred after the department responded at 5:25 a.m. to a report about a woman threatening people with a hammer.
The 30-year-old woman allegedly threatened the caller before advancing towards officers with a hatchet. Police arrived on the scene and encountered the woman in the parking lot. Despite repeated commands to drop the weapon, she continued walking towards them, holding the hatchet.
Officers deployed a Taser, which struck the woman but failed to stop her advance. When she approached one officer holding the hatchet, the officer fired his weapon, fatally injuring her. The woman’s identity was not released, although authorities confirmed her family was notified.
The Alaska Bureau of Investigation is leading a review of the incident, which will undergo further assessment by the State of Alaska Office of Special Prosecutions. Officials will determine whether the officer’s use of lethal force was legally justified.
Per department policy, the officers involved are on administrative leave pending investigation. Their names will remain confidential until after the Alaska Bureau of Investigation interviews. A section of Glacier Highway, including Trout Street, was temporarily closed during the investigation but has since reopened.
This marks the second fatal officer-involved shooting in Juneau this year. In July, state prosecutors cleared a Juneu office and an Alaskan Wildlife Trooper of any wrongdoing in the death of Steven Kissack, a homeless man armed with a knife.
The Juneau Police shooting has prompted community discussion about law enforcement procedures. Police thanked the residents for their ongoing support and patience as the investigations continue.
This news article was originally published by Alaska’s News Source.
