Police Shoot 16-Year-Old Girl in Anchorage

In a tragic incident on Tuesday night, Anchorage police officers fatally shot 16-year-old Easter Leafa, marking the city’s fourth officer-involved shooting this year. Mayor Dave LaFrance expressed her heartbreak over the loss, emphasizing that the young girl, who had recently moved from American Samoa, deserved a safe community and a chance to start her junior year of high school. The shooting occurred after police responded to a family disturbance call, where Leafa was reported to be threatening a family member with a knife. According to police chief Sean Case, officers gave Leafa multiple commands before two officers opened fire as she approached them with the knife. The situation escalated quickly, with one officer firing multiple rounds and another deploying a less-lethal projectile. Leafa was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly after the incident. The family, who had attempted to intervene, expressed their devastation and criticized the police response, highlighting the language barrier that may have contributed to the tragic outcome. In light of this incident and previous officer-involved shootings, Mayor LaFrance and Chief Case announced plans for reform, including a review of police training and tactics. The state Office of Special Prosecutions is investigating the shooting, and previous cases have seen no criminal charges filed against officers involved, as their use of force was deemed justified. The community is now grappling with the implications of this latest tragedy and the need for systemic change within the police department.