The Wasilla, Alaska community is mourning Pa Le Her, a 30-year-old woman whose life ended in a fatal shooting at Reflections Lake near the Glenn Highway.
Alaska State Troopers said Her was intentionally shot by her husband, 36-year-old Wasilla resident Chang Thao, during an incident on the afternoon of September 28, 2026.
Her was pronounced dead at the scene.
Thao was transported to a Mat-Su area hospital with life-threatening injuries after authorities said he shot himself. He died several hours later.
The Alaska Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the case while medical examiners and investigators continue documenting the circumstances surrounding the two deaths.
What Happened at Reflections Lake
Alaska State Troopers received a report of a disturbance involving a firearm at approximately 4:52 p.m. on September 28.
The incident occurred at Reflections Lake, a popular recreation area near the Glenn Highway and Palmer Hay Flats.
Troopers and officers from the Wasilla Police Department responded to the location.
Investigators said their preliminary findings showed that Pa Le Her had been intentionally shot by her husband, Chang Thao.
Authorities said Thao then shot himself.
Her was declared dead at the scene.
Thao remained alive when emergency personnel arrived and was transported to a hospital in the Mat-Su area. He died at approximately 9:20 p.m. that evening.
Who Was Pa Le Her?
Pa Le Her was 30 years old and lived in Wasilla, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Public information about her personal life remains limited.
Online tributes describe her as someone deeply loved by relatives, friends and members of the community.
Secondary reports have also described Her as a nurse and mother, but those details have not yet been independently confirmed through a family-authored obituary, employer statement or official public record directly connecting them to the woman identified by troopers.
Because of that, care should be taken not to attach unverified biographical information to her story.
What is certain is that Her was a young woman whose death has left those who knew her confronting an unexpected and violent loss.
Reports About Her Nursing Career
Searches following Pa Le Her’s death have included questions about her reported work in healthcare.
A professional employment profile associated with a person named Pa Le Her in Alaska lists experience as an intensive care registered nurse with Providence Alaska and previous neonatal intensive-care nursing work.
A University of Alaska Anchorage leadership recognition page also lists a Pa Le Her among its Spring 2018 honorees.
However, these records do not by themselves prove that they refer to the same Pa Le Her identified by Alaska State Troopers.
Until an employer, family member or official obituary confirms that connection, her nursing background should be described as reported rather than conclusively established.
Reports That Pa Le Her Was a Mother
Some online obituary reports have described Her as a mother of three children.
That information has not been included in the Alaska State Troopers’ public statement.
No independently verified family obituary reviewed for this article has yet confirmed the names or number of her children.
For that reason, this report does not identify any children or provide family information based solely on secondary websites.
If Her’s relatives publish an official obituary, those details can be added respectfully at that time.
What Authorities Have Said
The Alaska Department of Public Safety classified the incident as a homicide investigation.
According to troopers, the shooting was not believed to have been a random act.
Authorities said their preliminary investigation determined that Thao intentionally shot Her before shooting himself.
An Alaska State Troopers spokesperson also said other people were in the general Reflections Lake area at the time.
Gunfire reportedly struck vehicles during the incident.
Authorities have not reported that any additional people were shot.
The scene was cleared later that evening.
Pa Le Her Cause of Death
Authorities have confirmed that Pa Le Her died after being shot.
She was pronounced dead at Reflections Lake before her body was sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office.
The precise forensic wording of her cause and manner of death has not yet been publicly released through a final autopsy report.
However, Alaska State Troopers have explicitly described the case as a homicide and said Her was intentionally shot.
Any more detailed claims about the location or number of her wounds should wait for official medical findings.
Investigation Handed to Alaska Bureau of Investigation
The Alaska Bureau of Investigation assumed responsibility for the case following the initial response.
Investigators are expected to continue reconstructing the events that led to the shooting.
That process may include reviewing witness statements, physical evidence, firearms evidence and any available communications or electronic information relevant to the incident.
Both bodies were transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.
Those examinations may provide additional information about the exact medical causes of death.
What Led to the Shooting Remains Unclear
While authorities have described the shooting itself, they have released little information about what happened beforehand.
Police have not publicly detailed the argument or circumstances that led to the confrontation.
No official motive has been released beyond the preliminary finding that the shooting was intentional.
Secondary reports and social-media posts have raised questions about possible domestic abuse in the relationship.
Those claims have not been independently established by the information released publicly by Alaska State Troopers.
They should therefore not be presented as confirmed findings unless family members, court records or investigators provide additional documentation.
A Public Recreation Area Became a Crime Scene
Reflections Lake is generally known as a quiet outdoor recreation area near Palmer.
Visitors use the trail and lake area for walking, wildlife viewing, photography and other outdoor activities.
Its location near the Glenn Highway also makes it relatively accessible.
That setting made the fatal shooting particularly alarming to people who regularly visit the area.
Alaska State Troopers noted that other people were nearby when the incident occurred.
Authorities nevertheless characterized the shooting as targeted rather than random.
What Has Been Confirmed
Pa Le Her was 30 years old.
She lived in Wasilla, Alaska.
The shooting occurred on September 28, 2026, at Reflections Lake near the Glenn Highway.
Alaska State Troopers received the firearm-disturbance report at approximately 4:52 p.m.
Troopers said Her was intentionally shot by her husband, Chang Thao.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Thao suffered a self-inflicted gunshot injury according to troopers.
He was taken to a Mat-Su area hospital and died at approximately 9:20 p.m.
The Alaska Bureau of Investigation is handling the homicide investigation.
Both bodies were sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office.
Next of kin were notified.
What Has Not Been Confirmed
A detailed final autopsy report has not been released publicly.
Authorities have not disclosed a complete motive.
They have not publicly explained what led to the confrontation.
Reports describing Her as a nurse appear consistent with an Alaska professional profile bearing her name, but the identity match has not been independently confirmed through an employer or family statement.
Reports describing her as a mother of three currently rely on secondary sources and should not yet be treated as independently verified.
Funeral, visitation and burial arrangements have also not been reliably confirmed.
Remembering Pa Le Her
The circumstances of Her’s death are now part of an active homicide investigation, but they should not become the only way her life is remembered.
She was 30 years old.
Behind that official description was a person with family, friends, experiences and relationships that cannot be captured by a police report.
Those who knew Her personally are best positioned to describe her character, accomplishments and the roles she held within her family and community.
As official obituary information becomes available, a fuller picture of her life may emerge.
Until then, respect for Her means reporting what is known without manufacturing details to fill the gaps.
Domestic Violence and Community Safety
Authorities have described the case as involving a husband intentionally shooting his wife before fatally shooting himself.
Cases involving violence between intimate partners can have lasting effects on children, relatives, witnesses and entire communities.
Anyone experiencing immediate danger should contact emergency services.
People concerned about domestic violence can also reach specialized services that provide safety planning, shelter information and confidential support.
Seeking help does not require waiting until violence becomes life-threatening.
What Happens Next
Investigators with the Alaska Bureau of Investigation will continue reviewing the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The State Medical Examiner’s Office may later release additional findings from the autopsies.
Her family may also publish a formal obituary providing information about her life and memorial arrangements.
Any future details regarding children, nursing employment, funeral services or other personal matters should be considered confirmed only when released by relatives, an employer, a funeral provider or another authoritative source.
For now, the central confirmed fact remains that Pa Le Her’s life ended violently at age 30 and that Alaska authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
Disclaimer
This article is based on verified information released by Alaska State Troopers and other publicly available reporting.
Authorities have confirmed that Pa Le Her was intentionally shot and that the case is being investigated as a homicide.
Some secondary reports describe Her as a nurse and mother of three, but those biographical details have not yet been independently confirmed through a family obituary, employer statement or other authoritative source.
Unverified claims about domestic abuse, motive, family circumstances or other details should not be treated as established facts.