One Shot Ended a South Anchorage Shooting

One bullet ended the life of 33-year-old Rodrigo Gonzalez in South Anchorage on Thursday afternoon. Police Chief Sean Case confirmed the details during a press conference, identifying the deceased suspect and the officer who fired the fatal shot.

The timeline began at 10:05 a.m. when dispatch received a report of a burglary at a business on Lore Road. Officers had been searching for Gonzalez since Oct. 4, holding him on two felony warrants. At 1:41 p.m., an officer located him near 12201 Industry Way. A physical struggle occurred on the ground. Gonzalez discharged one round during the scuffle. Officer Jace Vickerman arrived at 1:42 p.m. and fired a single round, striking Gonzalez.

Emergency medical personnel treated Gonzalez at the scene but pronounced him dead. The Office of Special Prosecutions will now review whether the use of force was justified. Following that legal review, the Anchorage Police Department Internal Affairs division will examine the incident for any policy violations. Standard procedure has placed Vickerman on administrative leave. Police confirmed that next of kin notification procedures are complete.

The incident follows a week of activity for the department, which had been tracking Gonzalez for his outstanding warrants. The location, near Industry Way, is a commercial corridor in the southern part of the city. The review process involves two separate agencies before a final determination on the officer's actions is reached.