Anchorage community gathers in prayer and protest following Easter Leafas death [Video]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Four days after Easter Leafa, 16, was shot by police, Anchorage citizens are gathering in response.

This week, Anchorage was inundated with information about officer-involved shootings as officials addressed multiple points of concern from the community.

Increased attention on Anchorage Police Department actions and the grief of the Leafa family has led to community response. Friday afternoon, the Polynesian Association of Alaska organized a prayer vigil at Delaney Park, scheduled at 1 p.m., that allowed parents to drop their children off at school prior to joining – Friday would have been Leafa’s first day of her junior year of high school.

Saturday night, Leafa’s loved ones gathered outside of the Greenbriar Apartments where Leafa was killed. Family close to Leafa shared favorite memories of her, later lighting candles, singing together and releasing balloons.

In the days following Leafa’s death there have been multiple events to both offer comfort and demand action.

Pastor Leon May, President of the Interdenominational …