Prosecutors clear officers in deadly Fairbanks shooting, body camera footage released

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU) - Two Fairbanks police officers and an Alaska State Trooper were cleared Friday of any criminal wrongdoing in the June 28 shooting death of Brandon Michael Roberts, finding that the 31-year-old pointed a handgun at officers during a foot pursuit through the Bentley Mall parking lot moments before they opened fire, killing Roberts. Body-worn camera footage released by the Fairbanks Police Department this week shows that moment. In the video’s final seconds, Roberts is still struggling to get to his feet but is nearly fully upright, pistol still in hand, as officers close in on him from multiple directions, some just a few feet away. In the moments right before officers fired, the footage appears to show Roberts — one hand gripping the gun as he rises — bringing his other hand up to join it as he started to raise the weapon, though it had not reached a high point, when the shots that killed him are fired. No criminal charges will be filed against the three who fired their weapons.

Missing media or need the complete publisher report? Open alaskasnewssource.com ↗