Troopers shoot and kill Big Lake-area man after 9-hour standoff

BIG LAKE — After an approximate nine-hour standoff in the Big Lake area with Alaska State Troopers (AST), a 35-year old man is dead. According to AST dispatch, 35-year old Jean. R. Valescot was shot and killed around 12:20 a.m. Friday.

According to reports, police responded to a 911 call by Valescot around 3:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Police say he made threatening statements and told police he planned to kill anyone who came into the house and that he had a gun. According to reports, a woman was heard screaming for help in the background and that there was a young child in the home.

Troopers responded to the scene and AST's Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) was activated shortly afterward. Although AST did not release the exact location, according to Mat-Su Borough records, Valescot owns property off Amarillo Circle in between Big Beaver and Stepan Lakes. Officials did not issue details on the exact location, stating the only information available was issued on the AST dispatch page.

"We had the road intersection blocked off so no one could come toward where we were operating. We notified some nearby residents of the situation but did not require any evacuations," said AST public information officer Megan Peters.

AST dispatch states negotiations continued throughout the evening and into the night. The female, who police say was Valescot's girlfriend, was able to exit the residence several hours into the ordeal. However, the three-year old child remained with Valescot.

Police say negotiations continued past midnight and that a warrant for the suspect's arrest was obtained. Police breached the front door of the home to establish communication. Police say about 12:20 a.m., Valescot came to the front door with the child — his son — a pistol in one hand and a shotgun in the other.

Police say at that point, Valescot placed the child in ‘imminent danger’ and was shot by a SERT member. Although police attempted life-saving measures, Valescot died at the scene.

The Alaska Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation. As is department policy, police will not release the name of any involved officer for 72 hours.

Contact reporter Chris Ford at 352-2270 or chris.ford@frontiersman.com