Anchorage Police Department

View Original

Officer involved shooting investigation; 1700-block Wildberry Loop

Update:
The officer who shot the suspect and the officer attacked have been identified:

  • Officer Joshua Hooyer. He’s been a member of APD since October 2014.

  • K-9 Midas. He’s been a member of APD since May 2015.

Midas is doing well and continues on his road to recovery. He will be sharing more information, including a photo or two, tomorrow morning on our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/APDInfo/

Update 8/27/19 @ 2:35 p.m.:
The suspect has been identified as Kevin Phoummany (38 years old).
 
Next of kin procedures have been completed.
 
Our K9 officer continues to recover. We appreciate the outpouring of support!
 
For more information on how you can support our K9 Unit, click this link:
http://dollarsfordogsalaska.org/
 
Update 8/26/19 @ 9:30PM:
At 2:25 PM on August 26, 2019, APD officers received a tip that an adult male was brandishing a weapon at a home on the 1700-block of Wildberry Loop.  While officers were in route they received additional information that the suspect was under the influence of drugs, threatening suicide, and had pointed his gun at more than one person. 
 
When officers arrived they saw the suspect standing outside a vehicle while holding a handgun.  Ignoring officers’ commands, the suspect walked up to the home where he lived and attempted to enter through the front door.  When he was unable to do so, the suspect fired his gun which broke a window next to the door.  The suspect then turned around, pointed his gun at responding officers, and fired a shot.  Using the newly-broken window, the suspect was able to get into the house.  Initially there were three other people inside; they exited the home without being injured.
 
SWAT responded, along with negotiators, and attempted to communicate with the suspect.  The suspect did not respond to any of the officers’ attempts at communication or compliance.   At 6:35 PM chemical agents were deployed into the home at which time the suspect exited the residence through a rear window while holding a large sword.  The suspect approached a perimeter team which included a police K9; he stabbed the K9. One SWAT officer who was part of the perimeter team shot the suspect.  The suspect was transported to the hospital where he was declared deceased shortly after 7PM.
 
The K9 was taken to the pet hospital for treatment.  At this time the dog is expected to survive his wounds.  No other officers were injured.
 
Per policy the state’s Office of Special Prosecutions (OSP) will review the officer’s use of force and determine whether or not it was justified.  Once that has been completed, APD Internal Affairs will review the officer’s actions to confirm whether or not there was any violation of policy.  As per APD practice the officer will be placed on four days of administrative leave.  His/her name will be released publicly 72 hours after the incident along with the name of the injured K9.
 
Once OSP has completed their investigation, their findings will be available for the public to review.
 
The suspect’s identity will be released once next-of-kin notification has been done.
 
Update 8/26/19 @ 7 p.m.:
During the deployment of chemical agents, officer(s) fired shots which injured the suspect.  The suspect has been transported to the hospital; the extent of his injuries is unknown at this time.  No police officers were injured. How many officers fired shots is still under investigation.
 
As this is now an officer-involved shooting situation, there will be a police presence in the area for several more hours while the scene is being processed.
 
More information will be forthcoming. 
 
Update 8/26/19 4:25 p.m.
On 8/26/19 at approximately 2:25 p.m., Officers with the Patrol Division responded to the area of Strawberry Road and Wildberry Loop just off Minnesota in reference to a report of a suspicious person with a gun.
 
When Patrol Officers located the armed adult male suspect, he fired shots at multiple officers. There were no injuries. The suspect has since barricaded himself inside a residence in the area of Strawberry Road and Wildberry Loop and refuses to come out. There are no other residents inside at this time and officers have evacuated several residents in the area.
 
Multiple officers have responded to the scene including SWAT, Patrol Division, and Crisis Negotiators. Closures of Strawberry Road, Wildberry Loop, and the surrounding areas remain in effect. Please seek alternative routes and avoid the area until further notice.
 
Residents in the area are asked to stay indoors unless instructed by officers to leave their homes. As we negotiate and navigate the situation in the safest manner possible, we ask the public to please stay away from the area; this includes media.
 
For information on school bus delays, please contact your school directly.
 
Our response may include a variety of less lethal tools and tactics to bring this situation safely to a close. This could include things like the use of a drone and the possibility of deploying chemical agents. Nearby citizens with respiratory illnesses/sensitivities should remain inside and make sure doors and windows are closed in the event chemical agents are deployed.
 
Also, we ask the public and the media to refrain from posting/publishing photos and/or video of the scene until the situation is over. Showing tactical positions and movements in these types of situations can put the public's and officers' safety at risk.
 
We appreciate the community's cooperation during our response and we will keep you informed of any new developments.
 
Original 8/26/19 at 2:49PM:
There are multiple officers are in the area of Strawberry Road and Wildberry Loop investigating a report of shots fired.
 
There are no injuries. Multiple officers are in the area investigating. Please follow their instructions.
 
Traffic is being shut down at the Strawberry exit from Minnesota. Please avoid the area and seek alternative routes.
 
APD Case 19-30597