An Alaska State Trooper shot and killed a Sutton man who fired a gun at law enforcement officers Thursday after refusing to abide by a court order that said he had to leave his home, according to troopers.
Troopers served the domestic-violence protective order to Theodule LeJeune Jr., 58, through a window at his Eska Creek Street house about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, according to a charging document. LeJeune said he would not leave and “retreated further inside the residence,” a written statement from troopers says.
In an application for the protective order, filed in Palmer court earlier that day, a woman living in the house with her children said she was afraid of LeJeune and that his constant threats had escalated since January. His more-recent menacing turned more physical when he pushed her into a freezer, she wrote.
“He has many guns and has threatened me with them and has threatened to shoot any police officers that come — we are at this point terrified of him,” she wrote. “Mr. LeJeune has severe paranoia about many things.”
On Thursday evening at 6:23 pm, SERT and CNT personnel returned to the residence and contacted LeJeune by phone. LeJeune hung up on them.
According to the dispatch, SERT and CNT personnel continued to attempt to negotiate with LeJeune and also “attempted multiple times to disarm LeJeune with less lethal tools.” A short time later, LeJeune came out of the home with a firearm. Troopers say that using a Tactical Response Vehicle, SERT personnel attempted again with additional “less lethal tools” to disarm Lejeune. It is unknown what less lethal tools were used.
It was at that time that LeJeune opened fire on the troopers. A trooper returned fire, striking LeJeune. LeJeune died of his injuries at the scene. Next of kin were notified.
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