A man shot by an Anchorage police officer at a Midtown gas station late Sunday evening after waving a knife and trying to ignite gas pumps with a lighter has died.
According to APD spokesperson Marlene Lammers, just after 10:30 p.m., a worker at the Fred Meyer gas station on the corner of Northern Lights Boulevard and the New Seward Highway saw the man approaching pumps with a lit lighter. The worker shut down the pumps based on the man’s actions.
Officials say about four officers responded to the gas station, and one officer shot the man when he approached them. He was taken to the hospital for surgery, but died at about 2 a.m. Monday. The man has not been identified pending positive confirmation of his identity and notification of his next of kin.
“He was waving a knife around and a lighter,” said APD Sgt. Michael Kerle. “Officers responded on scene; he did not comply with verbal commands. There was a point where he lunged at officers with a knife, and he was shot.”
As a matter of policy, APD says the officer involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave.
Contact Rebecca Palsha at rpalsha@ktuu.com
