Gambell man shot by law enforcement officers after he fired at them, troopers say

Update, 6:30 a.m. Tuesday: Alaska State Troopers have identified the three law enforcement officers they say fired their duty weapons during an encounter with an armed man in Gambell on Friday as:

• Trooper Jayson Christner, a Nome-based trooper for the past eight months. Troopers said Christner had six years of “law enforcement service” within the state prior to joining the agency. Christner is a former Sitka police officer.
• Trooper Colten Buie, a trooper for three years currently assigned to the Nome post.
• Court Services Officer Sawyer Munson, a two-year veteran of the Alaska Department of Public Safety currently assigned to the Nome region.

Earlier story: Two Alaska State Troopers and a court services officer shot at a Gambell man Friday after he fired at them while they were serving an arrest warrant, authorities said.

Vaughn Walunga, 46, was hit in the hand, troopers said. He remained hospitalized Monday, according to troopers spokesman Austin McDaniel.

The troopers and court services officer were serving an arrest warrant on Walunga for second-degree terroristic threatening just before 1 p.m. Friday, troopers said. The troopers made announcements when they arrived at the home in the St. Lawrence Island community, and Walunga “stuck the barrel of a gun out the front door and fired,” they said.

The officers fired back and struck him in the hand, troopers said. No one else was inside the home during the shooting and there were no other injuries, McDaniel said. The troopers were outside for only about three minutes before the exchange of gunfire, he said.

They provided first aid to Walunga and brought him to a clinic, troopers said. He was later medevaced to an Anchorage hospital for treatment, McDaniel said.

Walunga was arrested on the outstanding warrant and troopers said more charges are expected to be filed.

All three officers were wearing body cameras during the shooting, McDaniel said.

The Alaska Bureau of Investigation has taken responsibility for the case, and the state Office of Special Prosecutions will conduct an independent review of the bureau’s investigation, troopers said. The law enforcement officers who discharged their firearms will be placed on 72 hours of administrative leave and will also be publicly identified in 72 hours under Alaska Department of Public Safety policy, troopers said.

Two separate charges of terroristic threatening were filed against Walunga last week. On Friday morning, Walunga called the village police officer and threatened to murder him, according to a sworn affidavit filed in that case. The other charge relates to an incident in early August.