At just prior to 6 pm on Monday Anchorage Police opened fire and fatally wounded a man with a BB gun on the east side of A Street near 16th Avenue, APD reported.

At 5:43 pm APD dispatch began receiving calls reporting a man near Walmart on A Street walking and waving around what “appeared to be a black handgun.” Officers began responding to the scene as another call went in to dispatch reporting that the suspect, described as a black man with a black puffy coat, had boarded a bus and was headed northbound on A Street.

Officers followed the bus and reported that the man got off the bus at A Street and 16th Street. Officers approached the man as he was walking on the southbound side of A Street and issued orders to stop. The man, whose identity had yet to be revealed, ignored the police commands and continued to walk towards them while pulling the bb gun from his waistband and pointing it at the officers.

The three officers at the scene responded by opening fire discharging their weapons multiple times. “Officers secured the suspect and then provided first aid until medics arrived and transported the male to the hospital,” APD stated. The man was declared deceased just before 8 pm.

The gun was retrieved and found to be a BB gun.

Crime Scene and homicide detectives responded to the scene to assist and A Street between 16th and 12th was closed down. APD states that the case will be turned over to the Office of Special Prosecution for review and an Internal Affairs investigation will be conducted.

The officers involved have been placed on mandatory 72-hour leave as is policy and the names of the officers will be revealed when that period expires.

the suspect’s identity will be released following next of kin notification.

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