ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Anchorage police say 59-year-old Harry Smith pointed an airgun, designed to fire BBs and pellets, at police before officers shot and killed him, Sunday.
APD responded to a home at 9000 Noble Circle just before 8:00 p.m. to a call of a despondent man who was threatening to kill other people in the house and himself.
Officers arrived carrying "less-lethal" 40mm rounds, but ended up firing on Smith with their conventional guns, after he pointed a handgun at police, APD said in a press release.
Investigators later determined Smith was wielding a Smith & Wesson .177 caliber airgun, which looks very similar to a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol, APD said.
