A Suicidal Gunman at the Anchorage VA

Quick-thinking volunteer diffuses situation with suicidal gunman at VA

By Jill Burke | 

Posted: Wed 6:29 PM, Nov 27, 2019  | 

Updated: Thu 8:53 PM, Nov 28, 2019 

ANCHORAGE (KTUU) - On Thursday, Nov. 21, a suicidal man entered Anchorage's VA building with a gun, pulled it from his back pack and pointed it at his head. It could have ended badly, with the man harming himself or someone else, but didn't, thanks to the quick actions of a volunteer. 

Rex Sharp Jr., 35, is a volunteer at the VA in Anchorage. 

He put his own life on the line to compassionately stop 

a suicidal man with a gun from hurting himself or bystanders. 

Rex Sharp, Jr., 35, a husband, father, and member of the Alaska Air National Guard told KTUU that although the event was terrifying, his crisis training kicked in and allowed him to calm the man down. Sharp serves in the military as a Sexual Assault Training Coordinator and first responder, and he knew that making a genuine connection with the man in crisis was key to de-escalating the situation.

When the man dropped to his knees, Sharp dropped to his knees, locked eyes with the man and let him know he wasn't alone.

"I said 'I am listening. You have been heard. Please take a moment to breathe,'" and "'If you want to talk about it, we can talk about it. But trust me, this is not what you want to do," Sharp told KTUU during a walkthrough of the health-clinic lobby where the incident took place. 

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