2 Troopers on administrative leave after shooting man who allegedly said he had 'suicidal statements'
Two Alaska State Troopers shot a Fairbanks man on New Year’s Day after he allegedly charged at one of them with a knife, according to the Alaska Bureau of Investigation.
Troopers got a report at around 11:30 Thursday morning about a man damaging property at a Fairbanks home.
When the troopers arrived, they talked with the suspect identified as 24-year-old William Rexford, an Alaska Native man, and with family members to find out what happened, according to trooper spokesperson Austin McDaniel.
“ We made the determination he was experiencing some mental health issues,” he said. “He was also making some suicidal statements to Troopers as they were all calmly speaking together.”
Just then, troopers say Rexford abruptly fled the living room, as one of the officers tried to stop him.
“ Without any warning,” McDaniel said, “Rexford jumped up from the couch he was sitting on, ran into a kitchen, armed himself with a kitchen knife, and then charged one of the troopers that was right behind him.”
He said the Trooper sustained a minor cut during the attack.
“ Multiple state troopers that were in the residence fired their handguns at Rexford,” McDaniel said. “He was fatally shot as a result of that. And then another adult male that was in the residence was also struck by gunfire.”
Troopers then immediately began life-saving efforts on both men until paramedics arrived and pronounced the suspect dead on the scene. Troopers say the other wounded man, who’s a family member of Rexford’s, sustained serious injuries and was taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, where remained hospitalized late Friday.
Rexford’s body was sent to the state medical examiner's office for autopsy.
McDaniel said major-crime investigators with the Alaska Bureau of Investigation were called in to conduct a forensic examination, interview people in the house and collect evidence.
Once their investigation is completed, it’ll be sent over to the state Office of Special Prosecutions, which will independently review the investigation to determine if any criminal charges should be filed against the troopers.
The names of the two troopers who were placed on leave, in accordance with state Department of Public Safety policy, will be released Sunday.