Easter Leafa Death – A 16-year-old girl, Easter Leafa, was fatally shot by police late Tuesday night in Anchorage’s University Area, according to the Anchorage Police Department (APD). The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. when police responded to a distress call from an apartment complex at the Greenbriar Apartments off Tudor Road. APD reports that the call was made by Leafa’s sister, who informed authorities that Leafa was threatening her with a knife. Upon arrival, officers encountered Leafa, who, according to police, approached them while holding the weapon.
Officers directed commands at her, but when she continued to advance, one officer fired multiple shots, while another officer discharged a “less lethal projectile” in an attempt to subdue her. Leafa was critically wounded in the encounter and was immediately transported to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. In a press conference held Wednesday morning, Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling the shooting “tragic.”
He noted that Leafa was preparing to start her junior year of high school, making her death particularly heartbreaking. “As police officers, we strive to protect human life, and when we don’t meet that goal, there’s no other way to describe it than it’s tragic,” Chief Case stated. The Anchorage School District confirmed Leafa’s identity in a statement released earlier in the day by Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt.
“Our deepest condolences are with the families involved in this tragic situation,” Bryantt wrote. He also announced that the district’s Mental Health Student and Staff Support Team had been activated to provide assistance to those affected by the tragedy as schools prepare to reopen. “The team will support impacted staff and students as we prepare to start school tomorrow,” he added. The incident has raised significant concern in the community, as it marks the sixth officer-involved shooting in Anchorage over the past three months.
Chief Case acknowledged this troubling pattern, emphasizing the department’s commitment to ongoing self-assessment and improvement. “We are committed to continue to look at our training, our tactics, as well as our supervision in these types of incidents to try to prevent future officer-involved shootings,” he said. The officers involved in the shooting were wearing body-worn cameras, Chief Case confirmed.
The footage from these cameras will be a crucial part of the ongoing investigation, which aims to clarify the sequence of events and evaluate the officers’ actions. As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of a young life under tragic circumstances. The APD has pledged a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure that all aspects of the incident are carefully examined. Further details will be released as the investigation unfolds, and the department has urged anyone with information to come forward.
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