Troopers identify man injured in shooting

Frontiersman staff

PALMER — A man wounded in a brief exchange of gunfire with Alaska State Troopers has been charged with attempted murder and assault, troopers announced Tuesday.

Vance Hopkins Barrett Jr., 53, of Palmer, remains hospitalized, according to a trooper press release. Troopers say they are guarding him as he recovers from his wounds.

The saga began Thursday when troopers received report of a suicidal man in Palmer at around 10:15 p.m. By the time officers got there, Barrett had shot himself but the wound was not life-threatening.

Troopers talked to him and he came to the door holding a gun. According to trooper reports, Barrett shot at them. No troopers were injured, but three returned fire – Phillip “Nathan” Duce, David Eastwood-Koleszar and Joseph Hess. All three are stationed in Palmer.

Even after receiving wounds from the troopers – which reports describe as serious – Barrett retreated into his home. Troopers called out the Special Emergency Reaction Team – a team akin to what other jurisdictions would call a SWAT team. Barrett decided to give himself up.

The Alaska Bureau of Investigation is looking into the matter. In previous instances in which officers have fired upon suspects, troopers have said that standard procedure is to handle the investigation just like they would if a civilian shot another civilian.