During the early morning hours of Friday, at 4:01am, Alaska State troopers attempted to stop a 1994 Saturn Coupe at Lucille Street and the Parks Highway.

The reason for the attempted traffic stop was an observed failure to signal a right turn as the vehicle was entering the Parks Highway as it left Tommy Moe Drive.

The vehicle failed to stop at the direction of the troopers and a pursuit was begun southbound on the Parks.

Officers deployed spike strip before the Trunk Road Turnoff. The spike strip deflated one tire, but failed to stop the vehicle, and the vehicle continued southbound onto the Glenn highway. By this time Anchorage and Wasilla Police had joined the chase.

As the vehicle approached mile 25 of the Glenn, the vehicle caught fire, subsequently, the vehicle stopped in the southbound lane.

The driver of the vehicle exited his vehicle and ran toward the northbound lane.

Officers attempted to stop the driver, attempts included use of a taser.

At 4:20am the man stopped running and advanced on the troopers with a baseball bat. According to the report, that is when a trooper fired on the man with his duty weapon. The man was declared deceased at the scene.

The incident caused a full shut-down of the highway, backing up morning traffic for miles. The highway wasn’t fully re-opened until 12:30 pm.

The investigation into the incident is continuing and the name of the officer involved in the shooting will be released in three days.