Palmer man dead following officer-involved shooting

A Palmer man is dead following an officer involved shooting early Thursday morning.

Gage Southard, 26, was pronounced dead at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. This followed a report of a domestic disturbance in Palmer and what troopers describe as a, “short eluding incident.” The Alaska State Troopers responded to the report of a domestic disturbance just after 2:30 a.m. in the Palmer area. Troopers were told Southard was inside the garage of a home with a shotgun. Southard left the residence in a vehicle, and the Wasilla Police Department was called to assist troopers. As Southard eluded police, he drove his vehicle into a ditch in a residential neighborhood.

He got out of the vehicle, according to troopers, with the shotgun.

At about 2:50 a.m. Wasila Police fired upon Southard, who was injured. Members of both WPD and AST began life saving measures before Southard was transported by ambulance to Mat-Su Regional.

The Alaska State Trooper General Investigation Unit and the Alaska Bureau of Investigation is investigating.

The Wasilla Police Department named the officer involved Sunday, following the mandatory 72-hour period, as Nate Lecours. Lecours has been with WPD for two years.

The Wasilla Police officers involved in the incident will be named following a 72-hour period, according to WPD policy.