Last night, Fourth of July evening, at approximately 9:21 pm, Alaska State Troopers began a high speed chase of a red, 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix near mile 44 of the Parks Highway.

Alaska State Troopers attempted to perform a traffic stop on the vehicle after it was observed speeding through a 45 mile per hour zone.

The driver of the vehicle, 35-year-old Albert Samoa Maifea, ignored the troopers attempting to pull him over, sped through a red light and continued down the highway in the oncoming traffic lane, passing vehicles along the way. The driver reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour as he sped southbound on Knik Goose Bay Road. Maifea continued speeding down the designated highway safety corridor before turning onto Edlund Road then onto Fairview Loop Road.

As Maifea approached Lookout Drive on Fairview Loop, he abruptly stopped his vehicle, jumped out of the Grand Prix, and began to flee, all the while brandishing a handgun.

That is when the pursuing trooper shot him.

Mat-Su Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and tranported Maifea to the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. His wound was not considered life-threatening.

The trooper was not injured either.

There were two witnesses to the shooting. They had been in a nearby vehicle. The witnesses were intervieed at the scene. Troopers are requesting that anyone else who may have witnessed the action to contact the Alaska State Troopers, Investigator Granda, in Palmer at 746-9106.

Maifea, it was determined, was driving with a revoked license and had a misdemeanor arrest warrant issued for malicious mischief to private property. Further charges will no doubt be leveled at Maifea.

The investigation into the incident is continuing, the identity of the trooper involved in the shooting will be released in 72 hours as is the policy of the Alaska State Troopers.