FPD/AST Press Release - Officer Involved Shooting on Lazelle Road

Media Contact: FPD PIO Yumi McCulloch, 907-388-0909, ymcculloch@fairbanks.us
AST Communications Director Jonathon Taylor, 907-717-3922
INCIDENT: Officer Involved Shooting-Lazelle Road

UPDATED: October 10, 2018

The audio/video is available at:  https://youtu.be/9Q0Q9mdvpi4

DATE: October 1, 2018

The State of Alaska Office of Special Prosecution (OSP) has completed its review of the officerinvolved
shooting of Cody Eyre that occurred on December 24, 2017. We have included the
Letter of Declination that gives specific details of the event.

Please be advised that the Letter of Declination contains graphic information and language.
 

OSP’s letter describes how Alaska State Troopers and Fairbanks Police Officers (the officers)
negotiated with Eyre and repeatedly asked him to stop and put down his gun. As the officers
followed him from Farmers Loop and down the Steese Highway, Eyre was close to entering
the Shannon Park residential area. The threat to the public and the officers’ safety increased
as Eyre’s behavior became more erratic. Eyre then yelled specific, explicit threats and
pointed his gun at the officers. At that time, the officers discharged their weapons at Eyre.
Once the threat from Eyre was over, the officers immediately began life-saving measures until
EMS arrived.

The determination was made by OSP that Alaska State Troopers Elondre Johnson, Christine
Joslin, James Thomas and Fairbanks Police Officers Tyler Larimer and Richard Sweet were
legally justified in their use of deadly force against Cody Eyre.

The use of deadly force is a traumatic event and has impacted all of those involved. Law
enforcement officers have a duty to protect the public and the right to protect themselves.

We understand the impact of this event and the loss the friends and family of Cody Eyre have
experienced. Incidents like this are difficult and we appreciate the public’s patience
throughout the investigative and review process.

A full media press briefing to include body camera video has been scheduled for Wednesday,
October 10, 2018.

CLICK HERE for the full Press Release and Declination Letter