New details released in Walmart police shooting that left suspect dead, three officers hurt

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Anchorage police held a press conference on Thursday providing updated information about the officer-involved shooting at a South Anchorage Walmart that left a suspect dead and three officers injured.

The shooting happened the night of June 16 at the Walmart on Old Seward Highway after officers responded to a reported retail theft.

Police have said Walmart staff called 911 at about 10:03 p.m. Tuesday to report a theft. Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case said store staff had intercepted a suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Deandrea Robertson, accused of retail theft and had him in custody. The first officer arrived at about 10:17 p.m., according to police.

Case said Robertson tried to flee soon after officers made contact in the store’s loss prevention office. During a struggle on the floor involving three officers and Robertson, who is said to have then fired a concealed handgun at officers.

One officer, identified as Officer Amburn, was struck twice in the lower body, police said, and was taken to a local hospital. Case said Amburn was in stable condition, and was released from the hospital on Saturday.

A second officer, identified as Officer Kaden Pohl, was struck in the upper body, but the round was stopped by a ballistic trauma plate in his vest, and he returned fire, police said.

APD Officer Tae Yoon and Officer Pohl were taken to the hospital and were later cleared, Case said. Robertson died at the scene.

A second suspect, Kathleen Lowe, was also arrested that night sometime shortly after the shooting.

Case also spoke about his first interaction with Officer Amburn after the incident.

“The first thing he said to me is, ‘don’t worry, Chief, I’m not going anywhere.’ And what he meant by that is he’s not quitting. He’s going to recover from this and come back,” Case said.

The Alaska Office of Special Prosecutions is expected to review the use of force, police said.

Under department policy, Pohl was placed on four days of administrative leave, but has since returned to duty.

The Walmart closed for several hours after the shooting and reopened Wednesday afternoon, police said.

The shooting was the fifth officer-involved shooting involving Anchorage police this year.

Editor’s note: This article was updated with new information.

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