Published: November 27th, 2009 12:23 AM
Last Modified: November 27th, 2009 12:23 AM
FAIRBANKS -- The Alaska state trooper who shot and killed a naked man holding a knife acted heroically and may have saved lives, a top agency official says.
"You couldn't ask for a better trained response," Col. Audie Holloway said Wednesday. "He did exactly the right thing, and he probably kept who knows how many other people from being hurt or killed."
The trooper and three medics responding to a 911 call Tuesday found Thom G. Gruenig with a knife in his hand. After Gruenig ignored commands to drop the knife, the trooper fatally shot him.
Troopers then discovered the body of Gruenig's 66-year-old mother, Kathryn, who had been fatally stabbed.
Holloway said substance abuse may have played a role in Gruenig's behavior. Troopers found thousands of small nitrous oxide containers in the home. Nitrous oxide, used by dentists, is a substance that can cause depersonalization, dizziness, euphoria and mild hallucinations.
The name of the trooper has not been released.
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