On February 4th at 1:00 p.m., a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force was in Aniak at the request of the Alaska State Troopers to effect a high-risk arrest warrant for 34-year-old Aniak resident Andrew John, who was wanted on a $2,500 felony arrest warrant for assault in the third degree due to an incident that occurred in the city on January 29th.
As the task force was clearing the house, John reportedly shot at the team inside the home striking a Deputy U.S. Marshal. The task force evacuated the wounded deputy and created a perimeter around the house. A short time later, John emerged from his home weilding a loaded shotgun, according to the online state trooper dispatch.
In response to the threat, multiple members of the task force fired their weapons fatally striking John, who was declared deceased at the scene. John’s next of kin have been notified and his remains are being transported to the Alaska State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.
The wounded unidentified deputy was taken to the Aniak Clinic and then medevaced to an Anchorage area hospital. The deputy is currently in fair condition.
The Alaska State Troopers Bureau of Investigation has assumed the investigative responsibility for the incident. ABI Major Crimes Investigators are currently in Aniak conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.
Once the investitation is complete, it will be independently reviewed by the Alaska Office of Special Prosecutions.