Very little information is being provided concerning the incident in Tanana that took the lives of two Alaska State Troopers. identified as  Sgt. Patrick “Scott” Johnson and Trooper Gabriel “Gabe” Rich, at shortly after 3pm Thursday afternoon. Both troopers were based out of the Fairbanks Unit.

AST states in the dispatch that two troopers, Johnson and Rich,  responded to the community of Tanana to investigate a report of an individual brandishing a weapon in the village last night.

Tanana residents say that shots were fired after three this afternoon in Tanana, although troopers have not released cause of death, Tanana residents are reporting that the troopers had been shot. Although one person has been detained in the community in connection in their deaths, the suspect’s name has not been released.

Alaska State Troopers state that the Alaska Bureau of Investigation has responded to the scene to investigate the two troopers deaths.

Schools were shut down temporarily after the incident, but by evening all students were off the premises

The community of Tanana, with its population of approximately 275, resides on the fork of the Tanana and Yukon River.

Next of kin of the Johnson and Rich have been  notified.

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