Wasilla woman shot dead by troopers

WASILLA — A disturbance in Houston left a Wasilla woman dead at the hands of an Alaska State Trooper late Sunday evening, authorities said.

Troopers responded to reported disturbance at a residence off Hawk Lane in Houston about 11 p.m., and set up a perimeter for public safety upon arrival.

Inside the home, Patricia Kruger, 38, had a gun she’d seized from the homeowner. The homeowner had allowed her into the residence earlier that night, and Kruger had taken the gun, according to a troopers press release. As the homeowner had fled, Kruger had fired the gun.

Troopers tried to contact Kruger via cellphone without success, and Kruger fired multiple times. Kruger then pointed the gun at a trooper, and the trooper shot and killed her, according to the press release. Kruger was declared dead at the scene.

Kruger’s body will be transported to the State Medical Examiner’s office, and the Alaska Bureau of Investigation has taken over the investigation, according to the press release.

In an email to the Frontiersman, trooper spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said few details will be released as the investigation is ongoing. She said the relationship between Kruger and the homeowner has yet to be determined. However, she said troopers had no indication they knew each other prior to the incident.

The fatal police shooting is the first in the Mat-Su since May of 2014, when Alaska State Trooper Daron Cooper and Wasilla Police Department officer Brandon Gray shot and killed suspected drunk driver Gordon Samel, 52, of Wasilla, as Samel allegedly backed his truck toward them.

A WPD officer also shot a man in September 2014, but that man’s death was ruled to be from a self-inflicted knife wound to the throat.

Here’s the full text of the press release:

On 2-21-16 at approx. 11:09 pm, Troopers received a report a disturbance in Houston. Patricia Kruger, 38, of Wasilla, entered a residence off Hawk Lane in Houston. Kruger was allowed into the residence by the homeowner at which time she grabbed the homeowner’s gun. As the homeowner fled the residence, Kruger fired the gun. Troopers set up a perimeter at the residence for the public's safety. Troopers attempted to make contact with Kruger with no success. Shots were fired by Kruger. Kruger pointed the gun at a trooper, at which time he fired his weapon, striking Kruger. Kruger was declared deceased on scene. Next of kin have been notified. Kruger's body will be sent to the State Medical Examiner's office for an autopsy. The name of the trooper involved will be releases after 72 hours. The Alaska Bureau of investigations has been assigned investigative responsibility.