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Police Chief Details Killing of Harry Smith by Officers (Updated with 911 call, prosecutor's report and incident history report)Said officers didn't know Smith's weapon was a BB gunRelated Content
UPDATE: Wednesday morning police released the incident report and the 911 call from Russell Smith. The incident history detail can be found here, and the audio of the 911 call and attorney general prosecutor's report are beneath the story. ANCHORAGE - Police responded to the home of 59-year-old Harry Smith in South Anchorage on July 1 after his son, Russell Smith, called 911 and told dispatch his father was drunk and threatening to harm himself and others. Two officers shot and killed Harry Smith in his backyard after they say he pointed a weapon at them. The Office of Special Prosecutions has finished its investigation into the shooting, and found the use of deadly force was justified. Tuesday, Police Chief Mark Mew said all of the officers who responded that night were interviewed and all said they weren't told the weapon Harry Smith had was a BB gun. "It's clear that Mr. Smith's son says his father is intoxicated and distraught and suicidal, and that he's going to try and trick the cops into killing him, so we know that much but as I say there is no mention of a gun at that time," Mew said. But Smith’s son says that’s not true. "I do not know the officer’s name but I would definitely recognize him by face; he asked me specific questions about the BB gun, he asked my if it was a rifle style, a handgun style,” said Smith. Chief Mew says even if the responding officers had received information from Smith's son that the weapon was a BB gun they wouldn't have taken the son's word for it, and must react to each situation as it plays out. In this case, Chief Mew says the BB gun looked exactly like a more lethal Smith and Wesson handgun. Chief Mew says officers also reported being extra concerned because there were children playing in the adjacent yard. Two officers went to that yard while two others confronted Smith. During the confrontation the officers say Smith didn’t put the gun down as ordered. Mew says as Smith raised the gun at officers, one shot him with a foam bullet. But Smith continued to point his weapon. That’s when the second officer fired two rounds. One hit Smith but Mew says he continued to point the gun at officers. "At that point the officer fires twice again,” said Mew. “And one of the team three guys [away] from next door at the residence, who's watching this from a distance, says this isn't working and he takes two shots as well,” said Mew.
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Truth said on Wednesday, Aug 15 at 9:45 AM
Didn't know it was a bb gun, and also couldn't aim for anything but the kill shot is what it should also say.
99194806mikey372002 said on Wednesday, Aug 15 at 10:54 AM
As I know in a report teh APD can write anything they want and the code of silence is what these people stand for, as for the son who told an officer about the BB gun, People are going to believe that in court. For years APD has falsified reports and years even search warrants to get a judge to sign off on the warrant, Read this in the anchorage daily news over the years, been an ongoing code of silence for years. Can you say Lawsuit.
99199981unidentified said on Wednesday, Aug 15 at 12:45 PM
I think that as the Cheif said even if it was a BB gun who is to say the son wasnt helping the fater? Nobody knows and the cops have to treat every situation as if it were a real gun. it could have been a painted water gun for all we know!
99208971Danielle said on Wednesday, Aug 15 at 12:47 PM
Regardless nobody should be pointing a weapon at a cop ezpecially a gun because if cops feel threatened and are being aimed at they can shoot
99209095Mike J. said on Wednesday, Aug 15 at 1:30 PM
"Code of Silence", good one Mikey. Got that off your TV shows like Blue Flu? Oh yeah, and not 'just a BB gun', but a Pellet Gun. A gun is a gun is a gun until 'on safe and grounded'. And don't care who you are or what kind of gun, you don't randomly point a gun at someone unless you intend to use it.
99211686Duwayne said on Wednesday, Aug 15 at 2:31 PM
it must be nice to be able to comit crime then investigate yourself and find yourself not guilty..why dont we allow everyone to do this..that way the prisons would be empty and ya wouldnt ave to foot the bill
99215502Unknown said today at 2:20pm said on Wednesday, Aug 15 at 2:33 PM
The way im seeing this story and all the other shootings is up there with APD is they are thinking before they shoot the person in whatever part of their body. I have been keeping track of all of these shootings up there and every story it sounds to me like APD has become trigger happy since i lived up there. Because where i live the cops are not like that at least they think before they shoot or use some type of calming method or that's when deadly force comes in.
99215591Questions? said on Wednesday, Aug 15 at 8:10 PM
What about all the tape recorders that the officers wear and record? They only seem to have those available when it is "convenient" for their case? I am sure they have all been "erased" or "were turned off". Funny how they have them available when it helps their case but not available otherwise. What about the video feed from all the police cars on scene? How much of the released 911 tapes are edited? APD only releases info that will exonerate them, never just the facts. I hope some journalist will investigate the "truth" instead of just being in cahoots with the police dept. It appears there is still more to this case and there are a lot of questions that need to be answered.
99233595Drew said on Thursday, Aug 16 at 10:06 AM
I see a lot of comments here about conspiracy and what the APD officers should have done yet I would be willing to be none of the people making the comments has a clue what is going on in our cities and around us, I would also be willing to bet none of the commenters have served in any way for the city, state or country. If you do not understand how fast a person can use a gun or knife to injur or kill someone then you better open your eyes. We all learn from an early age to respect law enforcement and our service members for a variety of reasons, if there are some that decide NOT to respect an armed officer and choose to arm themselves to prove a point then they will likely suffer the same demise. Wisen up posters and think before you post.
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