UPDATE 1/24 3:45 pm: The deceased adult male’s next of kin have been notified; he is identified as 32-year-old Kasilof resident Mason Toloff.
Original Post:
An Alaska State Trooper was shot during a standoff with a man in Kasilof on Friday morning. The man was later shot and killed by other responding officers.
According to the Department of Public Safety, at around 10:05 pm, AST received a 911 call about a man yelling and discharging a firearm near Crooked Creek Road in Kasilof. Patrol troopers responded and located the man, who then threatened to shoot the Troopers, law enforcement said.
The Alaska State Troopers Southern SWAT Team was activated and responded to the scene. After the SWAT team arrived, they took command of the situation and began negotiation efforts with the adult male suspect.
A short time later, they deployed a drone outside of the residence, which the suspect shot at multiple times. After shooting at the drone, the adult man shot at an Alaska State Trooper in uniform, striking her in the leg. The Trooper was taken to a Kenai Peninsula hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Then, at approximately 2:19 am, the assailant again pointed his shotgun at law enforcement officers, and multiple SWAT officers shot at the man, striking him. He was declared deceased at the scene, Troopers say.
AST says The man’s body will be sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy, and next of kin notifications are underway. Once the next of kin has been notified, his name will be released.
DPS says no other persons were injured during the incident.
Governor Mike Dunleavy, in a social media post, expressed sympathy for the injured officer and relief that her injuries were not too severe.
“Last night, one of our brave Alaska State Troopers was shot while on duty, protecting our great state,” the governor wrote. “Thankfully, her injuries are not life-threatening. Rose and I ask all Alaskans to keep this injured Trooper, her loved ones, and all of our law enforcement officers in your prayers as they work tirelessly to keep us safe.”
The Alaska Bureau of Investigation has assumed case responsibility and will conduct a thorough criminal investigation into the law enforcement officers’ use of lethal force. Once their investigation is complete, it will be independently reviewed by the Alaska Office of Special Prosecutions.
The law enforcement officers who discharged their firearms have been placed on 72 hours of administrative leave in accordance with Alaska Department of Public Safety policy.
The names of the officers who discharged their firearms will be released in 72 hours.