Anchorage Police Fatally Shoot 16-Year-Old Girl

On Tuesday night, Anchorage police fatally shot 16-year-old Easter Leafa after responding to a family disturbance call where she was reported to be threatening her sister with a knife. Police Chief Sean Case stated that officers issued multiple commands for Leafa to drop the weapon before two officers fired, one with lethal rounds and another with a less-lethal projectile. Leafa was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly after the incident, which has been described as the fourth deadly police-involved shooting in Anchorage since mid-May. Her family has expressed grief and demanded answers, stating that the officers only asked her to drop the knife once before firing. The incident has prompted investigations by the state's Office of Special Prosecutions and internal reviews by the police department to assess the use of force. The Anchorage School District has promised support for students and staff affected by the tragedy as the new school year approaches.