Posted on 05/01/2014 8:06:19 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
FAIRBANKS—Two Alaska State Troopers were killed in Tanana today, according to a troopers news release.
One person has been detained in association with the killings.
The troopers were in the community following up on a report of someone brandishing a firearm the night before.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths is unknown. The trooper news release did not indicate whether gunfire was involved.
The Alaska Bureau of Investigation is responding to Tanana to investigate. Troopers are in the process of contacting next of kin of the slain troopers.
Shots were fired somewhere in town at 3 p.m., according to resident and former schools superintendent Mary Edwin.
Tanana City Schools had already released students but went into lockdown for a brief time after the shooting. Edwin said that, as of 6 p.m., all students were safe and in their own homes.
Troopers were on the ground in Tanana investigating the incident by 6 p.m., according to Edwin.
This story will be updated.
Alaska ping.
James finally succeeded in becoming top dog breeder by taking advantage of Pat’s financial woes and buying up all Pat’s best yearling pups?
What a sad loss! Prayers for him and his family.
This is a small community up here. Prayers up.
I know this town well. Lots of drugs, alcohol and spousal abuse.
But you could say that about half the towns within 500 miles.
Prayers sent out to the families.
What a childish post!
The Alaskan interior - alcohol will turn out to be a major factor. Whites, Asians and blacks have had lots of exposure to alcohol for thousands of years. When we “discovered” the new world native Americans had had none; thus the “drunk indian” problem. At this point in time most of the natives have had exposure to alcohol for several centuries. Native Alaskans have not, it is a more recent introduction for them. Most don’t have the tolerance that the rest of us have built up. The more remote the area the less time they have had to be exposed to it. Thus the less they can handle it. Drunk native Alaskans can be very difficult to deal with; I have had to do so a couple of times.
The troopers killed were identified as Sgt. Patrick “Scott” Johnson and Trooper Gabriel “Gabe” Rich. Both were members of the Fairbanks Rural Service Unit, according to troopers. Their next of kin have been notified.
Johnson and Rich were in the community following up on a report of someone brandishing a firearm the night before.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths is unknown. The trooper news release did not indicate whether gunfire was involved.
The Alaska Bureau of Investigation is responding to Tanana to investigate.
Shots were fired somewhere in town at 3 p.m., according to resident and former schools superintendent Mary Edwin.
Tanana City Schools had already released students but went into lockdown for a brief time after the shooting. Edwin said that, as of 6 p.m., all students were safe and in their own homes.
Troopers were on the ground in Tanana investigating the incident by 6 p.m., according to Edwin.
The reality show Yukon Men is filmed there isn't it?
I hope the Yukon Men are alright!
Based on my viewing of Alaska State Troopers, they are very laid back compared to the trend we see in the news towards paramilitary behavior.
Once, a trooper caught some kids with marijuana, and made them dump it into the snow and stir it around with their feet, then let them go. Another time some kids were shooting a .22 and the trooper approached them, asking them to stop firing. They had a beer can open, but they “blew zero”, and the kids asked what was he going to do with the gun. “I’m going to give it back to you.” was the answer. “Really?” the kid says.
Anyway, I can’t even imagine what kind of evil was involved in this.
My mother was from Arizona. Each county in Arizona is named after an Indian tribe. She saw it all her life and I did too when we visited her parents (every other year). So sad. There's nothing anyone can do about the Indian drinking problem. They ARE free to choose their own path in life.
I have had little experience with the Troopers. But, from what I have heard, they are tough as nails but always fair, and uphold the Constitutional Rights of the folks they have to deal with.
Not enough women in the state! I guess there’s not a whole lot for women there...
RIP.
You’re flirting with Lamarckism here, i.e. “inheritance of acquired characteristics.” According to our understanding of genetics, it is only through selection of more alcohol tolerant individuals as reproducers that the passage of time will ameliorate the susceptibilty to intoxication.
Well ... that could be it! It wouldn’t necessarily take all that long. The extent of this problem is certainly featured in the episodes of Alaska State Troopers that I watched, at any rate.
More likely started with the consumption of a large amount of alcohol.
Edwin hasn’t been there herself but said the crime scene is reportedly a private home on Front Street, about half a mile up river from the school. She said she didn’t want to identify the home because it is the residence of a community elder. She said it’s her understanding the elder wasn’t home at the time of the shooting.
Troopers were on the ground in Tanana investigating the incident by about 6 p.m. Another group from the troopers’ Alaska Bureau of Investigation is headed to the community, according to troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters.
Troopers are not releasing the name of the person who was detained because that person has not been charged, she said.
“We still have things we need to take care of, and I don’t know if they’re going to be able to arrest and charge the person or if the person that they have is simply detained for officer safety,” Peters said.
Gov. Sean Parnell was informed of the killings late Thursday afternoon, according to spokeswoman Sharon Leighow.
Johnson and Rich are the 16th and 17th Alaska State Troopers killed in the line of duty. Two Village Public Safety Officers have also died on the job.
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