Centennial Park Campground shooting in Anchorage

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - A shooting took place on Wednesday evening, July 20, around 7:52 p.m. at the Centennial Park Campground in Anchorage.

According to the Anchorage Police Department (APD), two officers were conducting a security check at the campground when they saw a truck that had fled from them the day before. When the officers went to investigate they attempted to stop an adult male who was walking by the truck. The man, identified as 32-year-old lese Gali Jr., ignored police commands to stop, and got into the front passenger seat of a parked minivan that was close by.

When the officers tried to remove Gali Jr. from the minivan, a struggle resulted and Gali Jr. pulled out a firearm and shot at the officers. One of the officers was shot. Both officers returned gun fire and radioed for backup. Gali Jr. was shot several times.

According to the APD police report, “Citizens at the scene provided aid to our injured officer until backup arrived. Responding officers administered life-saving measures to Gali Jr. which medics took over upon their arrival.”

Gali Jr. and the injured officer were both taken to a local hospital. Both are expected to survive their injuries.

Gali Jr. has been served a warrant. Once he is released from the hospital he will be remanded to the Anchorage Jail. He is being charged with Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Assault in the First Degree, Assault in the Third Degree, and Misconduct Involving a Weapon in the Third Degree.

A $1 million cash bail has been set for Gali Jr. According to the Department of Law he faces a 99 year sentence for the attempted murder charge, a 20 year sentence for the first degree assault charge, and a five year sentence for the third degree assault and misconduct involving weapons charges.

These charges are only allegations and are not evidence of guilt.

The officers involved in the shooting were placed on four days administrative leave, per department policy.