On Tuesday, January 12, 2016 just after 7:00 p.m. Patrol Officer Eric Christian and Senior Patrol Officer Severin Stalmarck were dispatched to respond to a report of a disturbance between a male and a female at a residence located on the 600 block of W 32nd Ave.

When they arrived on scene, one of the officers observed an adult male standing in an open doorway at the residence. As the officers approached, the male retreated inside in the home and left the door open. Officers stopped outside of the entryway; there they could observe the male standing inside the residence near a bedroom doorway armed with a large butcher knife. Officers could also hear a female from a bedroom who was screaming from the room. Officers made verbal commands to the male asking him to drop the knife. The male refused to comply with officer commands and charged the officers while wielding the knife. When the armed male was within a few feet from the officers, the officers discharged their weapons and fired two shots each. The officers reported to dispatch that shots had been fired. The Officers then entered the residence and made contact with a female that was located in the bedroom; the female was not injured. While those officers were checking on the female, other officers had arrived on scene and started performing life saving measures on the male who had been shot.

Medics responded to the scene and pronounced the male deceased. The male was identified as 49-year-old Herman Bean Jr. His next of kin have been notified.

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the incident; it was reported to police that Bean had been consuming alcohol earlier in the evening. APD's Homicide Unit in addition to the Crime Scene Team responded to investigate the shooting.

As with all officer-involved shootings, this case will be reviewed by the State Office of Special Prosecutions. The Office of Special Prosecutions will determine if the use of force was justified. An Internal Affairs investigation will also be conducted to determine if the officers' actions were within policy.

Following the incident, the officers were placed on Administrative Leave. Patrol Officer Eric Christian has been with the Anchorage Police Department for four years and has prior law enforcement experience. Senior Patrol Officer Severin Stalmarck has been an officer with the Anchorage Police Department for eight years. 

APD Case 16-1694