The Latest: Man shot by state troopers dies of injuries

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Latest on the shooting of a man near Palmer by Alaska State Troopers:

10 a.m.

A man shot by Alaska State Troopers on Thursday night outside Palmer has died.

Troopers in a release say 33-year old Joshua Smith of Wasilla died just before 4 a.m. Friday at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

Troopers say his family was present at the hospital.

Palmer troopers at about 7:30 p.m. responded to a report of a disturbance. Officers found a man later identified as Smith at a nearby intersection. He was carrying a knife.

Troopers say that while officers talked to the man, he charged them.

Two troopers fired their service weapons. The man was hit by multiple shots.

The state medical examiner will conduct an autopsy.

The officers who fired their service weapons have been placed on 72-hours administrative leave, as called for by agency policy.

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7:45 a.m.

Alaska State Troopers say a man with a knife charged three officers Thursday night outside Palmer and was shot and critically injured.

The 32-year-old man was taken to an Anchorage hospital for treatment.

Palmer troopers just before 7:30 p.m. responded to a report of a disturbance off Hyer Road in Wasilla.

The found a man with a knife at Megan Way and East Jean Drive.

Troopers say that while officers talked to him, the man charged with the knife in his hand.

Two troopers fired their service weapons. A third attempted to use a stun gun.

The man was hit by multiple shots. No troopers were injured.

The troopers who fired their guns were placed on 72 hours of administrative leave.

The troopers’ Alaska Bureau of Investigation is investigating.