Teenager arrested after shooting at NPD officer

A Nome teenager was arrested last week after firing a stolen gun at a Nome police officer.

The unnamed 16-year-old, arrested early Tuesday morning on August 24 near 3rd and L St., has been charged with assault in the third degree, assault in the fourth degree, misconduct involving weapons in the fifth degree, harassment in the first degree and resisting arrest.

NPD Chief Mike Heintzelman shared details about the incident and his concerns with his officers’ safety during Monday’s Public Safety Advisory Committee meeting.

“One of our officers received a call of shots being fired throughout the morning of one day this past week, and he was trying to locate where the shots were coming from,” Heintzelman told the committee. “He encountered the individual that allegedly fired the shots … very shortly after the officer encountered him, [the suspect] pulled his hoodie up and you could see a pistol in his waistband. He pulled the pistol out of his waistband, pointed at the officer” and fired.

The teenage suspect did not have any rounds in the chamber of the gun at the time of firing, but the intent was clear to the officer. “The kid was trying to kill the officer,” Heintzelman told the committee.

The firearm did not have a lock back mechanism in the magazine, meaning that, even though there were no bullets in the chamber, the gun fired.

“There was no indication to the individual that there was no round in the chamber,” the Chief told the PSA Committee. “He seemed to be a little of an elevated demeanor. I don’t know if drugs were involved.”

The officer involved, who was wearing a body camera at the time, was able to restrain the teenager, though footage of the incident is not available for public review at this time.

“The firearm was out of ammunition, and it had been taken from an unlocked vehicle in the city of Nome,” Heintzelman told the Nugget later. “We are very fortunate with his situation that it didn’t turn deadly on either side.”

Heintzelman shared the story with the committee so members could understand the need for police training. The Public Safety Advisory Committee is currently exploring an accreditation program for the Nome Police Department, which would require specific standards of training and guidelines.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.