Anchorage police shot and killed a shoplifting suspect, who also allegedly shot two officers, during an attempted arrest at a Walmart on the city’s southside late Tuesday.

That’s according to Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case, who shared preliminary details of the incident in a press conference with news media Wednesday morning.

One officer remained hospitalized in stable condition Wednesday after the shoplifting suspect shot him in the lower body, Case said. Another officer was shot in the chest, but protective armor stopped the shots, the police chief said.

“We almost lost an officer last night, probably two, at what took place,” Case said. “This went from a simple misdemeanor arrest to a very violent act at the snap of a finger in close quarters.”

Case described a chaotic struggle between the man – whose name police have not yet released – and three officers responding to a reported shoplifting at the Walmart store on the Old Seward Highway near Dimond Boulevard at about 10:25 p.m. Tuesday.

Walmart staff had stopped the man and brought him to a loss prevention office at the store, because they believed he had some stolen merchandise that was hidden on his person, Case said. The man was sitting in the office with Walmart employees when officers arrived, Case said.

In the small room, the officers were getting some basic information when the man tried to flee, Case said.

“The three officers and the suspect went down to the ground,” Case said. “During the struggle, the suspect fired rounds at one of the officers that hit him twice in the lower body. The suspect then fired some additional rounds that struck another officer in the chest. That round was stopped by a ballistic plate in his vest.”

Case said officers were unaware the man had a gun on him until he began firing.

The officer struck in the chest returned fire, killing the man, Case said.

“The officer that was struck in the lower body was immediately transported to a local hospital,” he said. “The other two officers that were in the room also sustained injuries, and they went to the hospital later and were cleared.”

Case said the shooting was contained to the loss prevention office and did not spill out into the rest of the store.

Calls to Walmart went unanswered Wednesday morning. An Anchorage Reddit user who said they were at the store described employees rushing shoppers out after the shooting.

The store remained closed Wednesday as yellow tape blocked the entrance and investigators appeared to be inside analyzing the scene.

Under Anchorage Police Department policy, the names of the officers involved in the incident will be released after 72 hours. Case said the officers were part of the department’s Patrol Division.

This is the third fatal police shooting in Anchorage so far in 2026 and the fifth police shooting overall. Case said the city has seen “too much gun violence” in recent months and that the community needs to come together to address solutions.

“The Anchorage Police Department is going to keep these conversations going even if these conversations lead to criticism on how we do and conduct our business,” Case said. “We are open for all the conversations, so that we can move forward as a community to see some of these numbers go down.”

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are rolling out a new lineup of onboard beverages this summer.

The updated menu features everything from cold brew coffee to premium wines and champagne, with new offerings across multiple cabin classes designed to enhance the inflight experience for travelers on both airlines.

Among the additions is the debut of Stumptown Copilot Cold Brew on select Alaska Airlines domestic and Reykjavík flights. The cold brew will be complimentary for First Class and Premium Class passengers and available for purchase in the Main Cabin.

The airlines are also launching a new international business class wine program featuring selections from producers including Louis Roederer, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Paul Hobbs.

Meanwhile, Hawaiian Airlines is introducing its new Tide & Vine wine program in the Main Cabin. The collection includes a red blend, white blend and brut sparkling wine inspired by Hawaiʻi and the surrounding ocean.

According to Hawaiian Airlines, a portion of proceeds from Tide & Vine sales will support Mālama Maunalua, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring and protecting Oʻahu’s Maunalua Bay.

“As summer travel ramps up, we’re excited to introduce a beverage program that truly reflects what today’s guests are looking for when it comes to quality, craftsmanship and sense of discovery,” said Mark Krolick, managing director of products and guest experience for Alaska Airlines.

The new beverage offerings are being introduced as part of broader efforts by Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines to enhance onboard dining and hospitality experiences for travelers.

Alaska Native leaders used the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Mid Year Convention in Memphis, Tennessee, to spotlight the continuing collapse of salmon populations across Alaska and to urge Tribal Nations from across Indian Country to stand together in defense of Indigenous food systems, cultural traditions, and Tribal stewardship.

During a panel discussion titled “One People, One Voice: Standing Up for Alaska’s Salmon & Our Way of Life,” representatives from the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC), Craig Tribal Association, the Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP), and The Tatitlek Corporation described the devastating impacts of declining Chinook and chum salmon runs throughout Alaska’s Arctic, Yukon, and Kuskokwim river systems.

Speakers emphasized that salmon are central not only to subsistence but also to the cultural identity and survival of Alaska Native communities that have relied on the fish for thousands of years.

“Salmon are not simply a resource to our people—they are part of who we are,” said Angela Totemoff, AFN Board Member (Chugach Villages) and Subsistence Chair and Vice President of Community and Shareholder Relations for The Tatitlek Corporation. “When our communities lose access to salmon, we lose far more than food. We lose opportunities to teach our children, to gather as families, and to pass on the knowledge and values that have sustained our people for generations. The response to this crisis must reflect the importance of salmon to our cultures and our future.”

Panelists said years of historically low salmon returns have led to severe restrictions and closures of subsistence fisheries, placing additional strain on rural communities already grappling with high food costs, climate-related challenges, and population decline.

“Across Alaska, families have made extraordinary sacrifices in the name of conservation,” said Sharon Hildebrand, AFN Board Member (Interior) and Chief of Tanana Chiefs Conference. “Many of our communities have gone years without the opportunity to harvest the salmon that have sustained them for generations. Yet the burden of conservation continues to fall disproportionately on subsistence users. We must ensure that management decisions prioritize the people who depend on these fish for their food security, cultural wellbeing, and way of life.”

The discussion also examined the complex patchwork of state and federal salmon management systems and highlighted the need for stronger Tribal participation in fisheries decision-making, including recognition of subsistence as a primary management priority.

“Tribal Nations have stewarded these resources since time immemorial,” said Clinton Cook, AFN Subsistence Committee Member and President of Craig Tribal Association. “Our traditional knowledge, our stewardship values, and our lived experiences must be part of the decisions affecting salmon and the communities that rely on them. Protecting salmon is not only about conservation—it is about protecting Tribal sovereignty, food sovereignty, and the ability of future generations to continue living our cultures.”

Vivian Korthuis, AFN Board Member (Yukon Kuskokwim) and President and CEO of the Association of Village Council Presidents, said the current situation underscores the importance of incorporating Tribal knowledge and leadership into resource management.

“Alaska Native people have cared for salmon since time immemorial, guided by values of stewardship, reciprocity, and responsibility to future generations,” Korthuis said. “The current crisis demonstrates the need for management systems that recognize Tribal knowledge, respect Tribal leadership, and prioritize the long-term health of our salmon and communities. We cannot continue asking our people to shoulder the burden of conservation while decisions are made without meaningful Tribal partnership. The path forward must include stronger Tribal co-management and a commitment to protecting the resources that sustain our cultures and way of life.”

The panel concluded by calling for expanded collaboration among Tribal Nations, stronger support for Tribal co-management, reforms to federal fisheries policy, and management approaches that emphasize long-term sustainability and ecosystem health.

In a visible show of solidarity, Alaska Native leaders and representatives attending the convention asked members of the Alaska Caucus to stand in support of the panel’s message. The group rose together, signaling a shared commitment to protecting salmon, defending subsistence traditions, and advancing Tribal stewardship and self-determination.

AFN leaders also encouraged Tribal Nations across the country to recognize Alaska’s salmon crisis as part of a broader Indigenous struggle to preserve traditional foods, cultural practices, and Tribal sovereignty.

“What is happening in Alaska is a reminder that when Indigenous voices are not fully included in resource management decisions, communities bear the consequences,” Totemoff said. “The support and solidarity shown by Tribal leaders from across Indian Country reinforces that protecting our traditional foods and ways of life is a shared responsibility.”

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