In a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday in Anchorage, a police shooting unfolded during what officers are calling a botched robbery. The man shot by Anchorage Police has been identified as 34-year-old Michael Krischuck, and court documents show he’s facing serious charges of first-degree robbery — with a weapon or even the claim of having one.
So, what led to this incident? Well, surveillance footage from a nearby market reveals some key moments from that day. According to the market employee, the victim shared a chilling story. The woman, who worked at the Day Break Spa, told the employee that she had managed to escape from a dangerous situation. Apparently, a customer had taped her hands and mouth after a heated argument over payment. Once she escaped, she ran to the nearby market, where she sought help.
The victim went on to explain that the situation escalated when the angry customer, still inside the spa, tried to break into an ATM. The employee quickly dialed 911 to help translate for the victim, and within minutes, the police were on their way.
As the police responded, a man was seen on surveillance footage leaving the spa’s back door and walking into the alley. This was the same man officers later shot. Police Chief Sean Case shared some details during a press conference. He said officers spotted a man who matched the description given by the victim and the market employees. When an officer tried to approach him, the man didn’t stop. After giving multiple commands, the suspect took off on foot. That’s when the officer fired between five and eight shots, hitting Krischuck twice in the upper body.
The officer who fired the shots was identified as Officer William Parry, who has been with the Anchorage Police Department since 2016.
Krischuck’s cousin, Brooke Culbreth, spoke out on Friday. She confirmed that Michael is still hospitalized but is expected to recover. She also revealed that Krischuck had faced legal troubles before — he was arrested last year on charges of armed robbery. Although he was released after posting bail, he was required to wear an electronic monitoring device.
Culbreth expressed frustration over the lack of support for people struggling with addiction, particularly those like Krischuck, who have a history of substance abuse. “It’s pretty disheartening that individuals facing addiction are cycled through arrests and released without receiving the necessary support,” she said. “If you’re going to release people, you should probably make sure that they have adequate support on the outside.”
Alaska’s News Source has reached out to the Department of Law and the Department of Corrections for more information about Krischuck’s release and is waiting for their response.
