Update on 7/5/23:

The officer who discharged his weapon during last Sunday morning’s incident is Christopher Hall.  He has been employed as an officer with the Anchorage Police Department since December 2020.

Update on 7/3/23:

The deceased suspect has been identified as 34-year-old Sean M. Burke.  Next-of-kin notification procedures have been completed.

Update at 9:30 AM on 7/2/23:

At 5:39 AM on July 2, 2023, two mid-shift patrol officers stopped on a blue SUV that had pulled over on the exit ramp to go from the outbound Glenn Highway onto the South Birchwood Exit.  An adult male was standing outside the SUV, the rear hatch to the vehicle was open, and he had a rifle in his hands.

The suspect advanced on the officers while holding the rifle; one officer fired his weapon, hitting the suspect at least one time in the upper body.  After backup officers arrived, police rendered aid to the suspect.  While doing so they located a handgun on the suspect’s person.  AFD medics transported the suspect to a hospital where he was declared deceased a short time later.  No officers were injured.

The two officers who initially stopped on the SUV were in the area investigating a shots-fired call.  It is currently unknown if the suspect was in any way involved in that incident.

The Crime Scene Team will be responding to process the scene.  The northbound South Birchwood exit ramp will remain closed for the duration.

Per policy the state’s Office of Special Prosecutions (OSP) will review the officer’s use of force and determine whether it was justified.  Once that has been completed, APD Internal Affairs will review the officer’s actions to confirm whether there was any violation of policy.  As per APD practice the officer will be placed on four days of administrative leave. His name will be released publicly 72 hours after the incident.

The suspect has been identified.  His name will be released once next-of-kin notification procedures have been completed.

 Original at 8:45 AM on 7/2/23:

Anchorage Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting.  No officers were injured; the suspect is deceased.

The exit ramp from the outbound Glenn Highway to the South Birchwood exit is closed and will remain so for several hours.

APD will Facebook live a press conference at 9:30 this morning, July 2nd.

More information will be forthcoming.

APD Case 23-21082