Juneau Police Chief Derek Bos cleared all officers involved in the fatal shooting of Steven Kissack, a 35-year-old homeless man, of wrongdoing. The incident occurred on July 15 and involved four Juneau Police Department officers and one Alaska Wildlife Trooper.
Body camera footage shows Officer Lee Phelps approaching Kissack, who was sitting with a knife in his hand. Phelps had responded to an earlier alleged assault. After a six-minute conversation, Kissack stands up and confronts Phelps with the knife, saying, “I don’t like the way you’re looking at me. Back up!” Phelps raises his gun and asks Kissack to put down the knife.
As more officers arrive, the situation escalates. Officers hit Steven Kissack with non-lethal bean bag rounds, but he lunged at them, prompting them to fire multiple gunshot rounds. The officers’ gunfire brings Kissack to the ground, and medical professionals later pronounce him dead at a Juneau hospital. The officers involved were Sgt. Chris Gifford, Sgt. Branden Forst, Officer Terry Allen, Officer Lee Phelps, and Officer Tim Kissner.
The shooting sparked community protests, with rallies held to demand justice for Steven Kissack. However, the state of Alaska has decided not to pursue criminal charges against the officers involved. The incident highlights the challenges of policing and the need for de-escalation techniques. The released body camera footage provides additional angles of the shooting, offering a clearer understanding of the events leading up to Kissack’s death.
This news was originally published by Alaska News Source.
