USCG Joins Multi-Agency Response to Alaska Police Ambush
A standoff between authorities and a man suspected of ambushing and killing two police officers continued Monday in a small village in southeast Alaska. Alaska State Troopers weren’t releasing any more information about the incident in Hoonah, located on an island about 40 miles west of Juneau, agency spokeswoman Megan Peters said. Only essential personnel, including a SWAT team and dozens of other law enforcement officials, have been taken to Hoonah. Hoonah police officers Tony Wallace and Matt Tokuoka died after the shooting late Saturday, said Bob Prunella, acting city administrator.
The suspect, John Marvin Jr., 45, barricaded himself in his home and Alaska State Troopers and other law enforcement agencies and maintained their positions through the night into Monday, authorities said. Troopers were urging residents in the shoreline community of about 800 to stay away from the area. It was unclear what led to the shooting. Tokuoka left the home of his father–in–law, George Martin, just before the shooting. The 39–year–old officer was off–duty and had spent the evening there before leaving with his wife and two children, Martin said. Soon after they left, Martin heard two shots. Wallace was knocked down, and Tokuoka told his wife and children to get away and then he was shot as well, Martin said. Wallace was on–duty at the time of the shooting. It was unclear why he was in the area. Wallace, 32, died during surgery in Juneau and Tokuoka died at a clinic in the Native village, according to Martin.
Alaska State Troopers were leading a multi–agency response, and Peters said a warrant was issued for Marvin’s arrest. The Coast Guard transported the Juneau Police Department’s SWAT team to the village, Peters said. Prunella said the deaths leave the Tlingit community with just two full–time officers — the police chief and a trainee. He said the southeast Alaska town of Wrangell sent some officers to help out as needed.
