Justin Quincy Smith, 36

Wasilla, Alaska
March 26, 2017

A Wasilla man was shot and killed by troopers early Sunday after he led police on a high-speed chase and opened fire on a police dog, killing the animal, Alaska State Troopers said.

At 2:50 a.m. Sunday, troopers tried to make a traffic stop on a Subaru Legacy around the area of Bogard Road and Helen Lane in Wasilla, according to a dispatch posted online.

The driver sped away, leading officers on a 45-minute chase that ended when troopers disabled the vehicle with spike strips near Mile 45.5 of the Parks Highway.

"The driver of the Subaru exited the vehicle, ignored commands from AST and attempted to flee," the dispatch said. When troopers deployed a K-9, the driver "turned and fired a handgun," striking the dog, troopers said.

"Troopers returned fire, striking the suspect," according to the dispatch.

The man, 36-year-old Justin Quincy Smith of Wasilla, was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center but died of his injuries.

Public records show that Smith was a longtime Alaska resident who had lived in Sitka and Bethel before more recently living in Wasilla.