Anchorage officers cleared in Kristopher Handy killing despite video disproving police claim

An enlargement of a still taken from an Anchorage constabulary vehicle’s dashboard camera, showing Kristopher Handy holding a shotgun successful his correct manus moments earlier officers changeable and killed him connected May 13, 2024. (From Alaska Office of Special Prosecutions)

State prosecutors person declined to record charges against nan Anchorage constabulary officers who shot and killed an equipped man aft a home conflict successful May.

That’s contempt video grounds contradicting an first constabulary relationship of nan moments earlier nan shooting.

Officers’ shooting of 34-year-old Kristopher Handy extracurricular a Sand Lake flat analyzable May 13 prompted an investigation by nan authorities Office of Special Prosecutions, which released its findings Wednesday morning. The nationalist merchandise of nan investigation findings, which were included successful a missive to Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case dated Friday, came Wednesday soon earlier Anchorage constabulary planned to clasp a news convention releasing officers’ assemblage camera footage of nan incident.

In the 21-page letter, Senior Assistant Attorney General John Darnall includes antecedently unreleased accusation connected nan events starring up to nan shooting, arsenic good arsenic imagery of Handy from a constabulary car’s dashboard camera conscionable earlier he was shot.

Darnall’s determination intends Sgt. Noel Senoran and Officers Jacob Jones, Jacob Ostolaza and James Stineman will not beryllium charged successful nan shooting. Per section policy, Chief Case said Anchorage constabulary would beryllium conducting their ain investigation of nan officers’ conduct.

Police opportunity nan telephone that led to Handy’s decease started retired simply: a disturbance betwixt a man and a woman, reported to Anchorage constabulary astatine astir 2:15 a.m. connected May 13.

But arsenic officers headed to nan flat analyzable connected Bearfoot Drive, disconnected Northwood Street adjacent Strawberry Road, dispatchers told them that nan man – later identified arsenic Handy – had near nan building carrying a agelong gun.

As officers arrived, they divided up into 2 teams and approached nan building. An APD statement – publication verbatim to reporters by then-Chief Designee Bianca Cross astatine a news convention conscionable hours later – summarized what constabulary said happened next.

“As they precocious towards nan flat analyzable connected foot, nan big antheral raised a agelong weapon towards nan officers,” constabulary said. “Four officers discharged their weapons, striking nan big antheral astatine slightest erstwhile successful nan precocious body.”

Officers and medics performed first assistance connected Handy, but constabulary said he died astatine nan scene.

Cross confirmed that nan officers progressive successful nan shooting had been wearing assemblage cameras. Police didn’t instantly merchandise their video, nan first specified footage of a fatal shooting by Anchorage constabulary since officers started to beryllium outfitted pinch assemblage cameras precocious past year, arsenic nan authorities conducted its investigation.

But the nationalist sewage a first look astatine nan shooting days later from a doorbell camera astatine different flat successful nan Bearfoot Drive complex. That footage ne'er shows Handy raising his weapon astatine officers.

According to Darnall’s letter, erstwhile constabulary arrived astatine nan flat complex, Handy came “charging” retired of an upstairs flat onto an exterior walkway pinch a pistol-grip, short-barrel shotgun.

“Handy raised this shotgun consecutive successful nan aerial supra his caput and yelled (an expletive) astatine nan officers,” Darnall said successful nan letter.

Darnall said Handy past moved “rapidly and purposefully” on nan walkway and down a group of stairs, astatine 1 constituent facing different officers who were trying to flank his position.

“Handy quickly turned towards nan officers who were stationed successful and adjacent nan patrol vehicles while holding nan shotgun,” Darnall said. “Handy stepped guardant disconnected nan sidewalk and into nan parking lot, and astatine that moment, aggregate APD officers fired shots.”

Darnall said Handy dropped his weapon aft he was shot. An autopsy wished he had been struck 10 times successful nan shooting.

Darnall recovered that nan investigation “generally corroborated officers’ accounts of nan events.” He besides wished that nan officers were justified nether state law successful utilizing deadly unit against Handy, because they believed he posed a threat to their lives.

Anchorage constabulary person planned an 11 a.m. news convention Wednesday to talk nan assemblage camera footage of Handy’s shooting successful detail.

This is simply a processing story. Check backmost for updates.