Trooper fatally shoots a harpoon-wielding man in Kasilof

An Alaska State Trooper changeable and killed a man successful Kasilof who allegedly charged them carrying a harpoon early Monday. The incident is nan first fatal shooting involving a trooper successful Alaska this year. 

Troopers opportunity they responded to southbound Kasilof formation astir 12:15 a.m. Monday aft being notified a man — 67-year-old Soldotna resident Kirk Medak — was threatening to termination group pinch a sword. State and Wildlife Troopers responded and saw a man pinch a harpoon adjacent tents. Troopers opportunity nan man charged astatine their patrol conveyance aft they arrived connected nan scene. 

Troopers opportunity nan man initially retreated aft they ordered him to measurement back. They opportunity he charged them again erstwhile they sewage retired of their vehicle. A trooper changeable nan man aft he reportedly ignored their commands. The man was declared dormant astatine nan segment aft life-saving efforts performed by troopers and emergency aesculapian services. 

Troopers opportunity nan man’s assemblage will beryllium sent to nan authorities aesculapian examiner for autopsy. Per authorities policy, nan trooper who changeable nan man was placed connected 3 days of administrative time off and will not beryllium named until that clip has passed. 

Troopers spokesperson Austin McDaniel said Monday via email that nan lawsuit is being investigated by nan Alaska Bureau of Investigation. When nan investigation is complete, nan lawsuit will beryllium referred to nan authorities Office of Special Prosecutions for review.

McDaniel said that agency will will find whether nan trooper’s usage of unit was justified nether Alaska law, aliases if nan serviceman should beryllium charged pinch a crime. Troopers are required to transportation little lethal devices while successful uniform, including a Taser and capsicum spray. 

“We return officer-involved-shootings highly earnestly and analyse it pinch nan aforesaid thoroughness and gait that we analyse each homicide investigations,” McDaniel said. 

McDaniel said nan reappraisal will besides heavy power erstwhile troopers merchandise body-camera video footage of nan incident. He said some troopers who responded were wearing cameras that were progressive during nan shooting. Their patrol car was besides equipped pinch a video system.

The shooting occurred adjacent a celebrated sportfishing spot for group participating successful Kasilof’s individual usage fishery, which opened precocious past month. McDaniel said nan man was changeable successful nan wide area, but that nan incident was not straight related to nan fishery.