The fatal police shooting of 16-year-old Easter Leafa in Anchorage, Alaska, has sparked significant community outcry and raised questions about police practices. On August 13, 2024, police responded to a 911 call from Leafa's sister, who reported that Leafa had threatened her with a knife during a dispute. When officers arrived, they found Leafa on the balcony of her family's apartment, seated under a blanket with a knife. According to police reports, she did not comply with orders to show her hands and instead stood up and moved toward the officers while holding the knife, prompting one officer to shoot her three times with live rounds while another officer simultaneously fired a less-lethal foam projectile. Leafa died at the hospital shortly after the incident.
Leafa had recently moved from American Samoa to Anchorage with her family, seeking better educational opportunities. She was set to start her junior year of high school just two days after the shooting. The incident has highlighted a troubling pattern in Anchorage, where police have shot seven people since May 2024—more than double the average number in previous years. Of these seven, four were fatal, including Leafa’s.
The shooting has led to widespread protests and demands for justice, particularly within Anchorage’s Samoan community. Critics argue that the police response lacked adequate de-escalation efforts, especially considering Leafa's limited English proficiency and the confined space in which the confrontation occurred. The Anchorage Police Department and Mayor Suzanne LaFrance have since announced that a third-party investigation will be conducted, and they have committed to reviewing police training and procedures in light of the increased number of shootings this year.
The incident has intensified discussions about policing in Anchorage, with community members calling for greater transparency, including the release of unedited body camera footage from the officers involved
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