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2/15/2025 7:01:05 AM
Breaking News

Trooper fatally shoots man wielding a harpoon in Kasilof.


Trooper fatally shoots man wielding a harpoon in Kasilof.

An Alaska State Trooper fatally shot a man in Kasilof on Monday morning after the man allegedly charged them with a harpoon. This incident marks the first fatal shooting involving a trooper in Alaska this year. The troopers responded to a report of a 67-year-old man, Kirk Medak, threatening people with a sword on a beach in south Kasilof around 12:15 a.m. When they arrived, they saw the man with a harpoon near some tents. Despite being ordered to step back, the man charged at the troopers, leading to one of them shooting him. The man was declared dead at the scene after life-saving efforts were unsuccessful. The man's body will undergo an autopsy by the state medical examiner, and the trooper who fired the fatal shot has been placed on administrative leave per state policy. The case is being investigated by the Alaska Bureau of Investigation and will be reviewed by the state Office of Special Prosecutions once the investigation is complete. Troopers are required to carry less lethal tools, such as Tasers and pepper spray, while on duty. The use of force by the trooper will be evaluated to determine if it was justified under Alaska law. Body-camera footage of the incident will be released based on the outcome of the review. The shooting took place near a popular fishing spot in Kasilof, but it was not directly related to the fishery.

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Elwood Hill
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Elwood Hill

Elwood Hill is an award-winning journalist with more than 18 years' of experience in the industry. Throughout his career, John has worked on a variety of different stories and assignments including national politics, local sports, and international business news. Elwood graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and immediately began working for Breaking Now News as lead journalist.

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