JUNEAU POLICE DEPARTMENT
6255 ALAWAY AVENUE JUNEAU, ALASKA 99801
Business (907) 586-0600
Fax (907) 463-4808
Integrity, Courage, Service, Respect
INFORMATION RELEASE
Date: 2015-10-21
From: Erann Kalwara - JPD PIO
Case or Incident: #151021-001
***Murder Investigation - Update October 21, 2015 2:45pm***
The victim of last night?s fatal shooting has been identified as Brandon Christopher Cook born in 1984.
Shortly after officers arrived at the scene last night they developed information leading them to identify the suspect as Christopher D. Strawn. Strawn was believed to be in a residence in the 9900 block of Stephen Richards Memorial Drive. That area was placed under surveillance throughout the night while JPD detectives conducted an investigation. Early this morning after warrants were obtained, the Juneau Police Department was prepared to make contact with Strawn. JPD decided to delay contacting the suspect due to factors including the safety of children walking to school and increased pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
At around 7:07am, as officers were waiting to contact Strawn, a person walked out of the area where JPD believed the suspect was located. This person vaguely matched the description of the suspect. This person boarded a Capital Transit Bus. The bus went to the area of the Nugget Mall where JPD officers contacted the bus and verified that the person who left the area was not the suspect. There were several busses in the Nugget Mall area at the time. Each bus was searched and it was verified the suspect was not on board.
Just prior to making contact with Strawn, JPD officers made phone contact with people in adjacent residences and notified them of a voluntary evacuation plan. JPD officers gave them instructions for how to safely leave the area. A Capital Transit bus was staged at a nearby bus stop to provide safe shelter out of the immediate vicinity of the situation while officers contacted the suspect.
At about 8:31am, members of the JPD SWAT team entered the residence and made contact with Strawn. Strawn surrendered without incident, was transported to JPD and subsequently arrested for Murder in the 1st degree and transported to Lemon Creek Correctional Center. The JPD SWAT team was utilized due to the seriousness of the crime and involvement of a firearm. The investigation is ongoing.
All factual allegations contained in this release are based upon preliminary investigation and are subject to change or clarification as the investigation continues. Any charges reported in this release are merely accusations and all persons named in this release are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.