A 26-year-old White/Caucasian male, Gabriel “Gabe” Rich, was fatally shot on May 1, 2014 while serving as an Alaska State Trooper in Tanana, Alaska. He was working in tandem with Sergeant Patrick “Scott” Johnson in response to reports that a resident had brandished a firearm during a dispute over the private sale of a couch. The troopers travelled to the home of Arvin Kangas in Tanana, acting on a warrant related to the earlier incident.
As they attempted to arrest Arvin Kangas, a struggle ensued. During the confrontation, his son, 19-year-old Nathanial Lee Kangas, emerged and opened fire, killing both officers. Trooper Gabriel Rich died at age 26. Sergeant Johnson died as well.
Following the shootings, Nathanial Kangas was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and a count of third-degree assault. Arvin Kangas, the father, was also arrested on related charges—he was charged with evidence tampering for allegedly altering the positions of the troopers' weapons and disposing of marijuana plants, as well as assault connected to an earlier confrontation with a village public safety officer which triggered the troopers' involvement.
In 2016 Nathanial Kangas stood trial in Fairbanks, was convicted on the charges of two counts of first-degree murder and other related counts, including tampering with evidence, and was sentenced to 203 years in prison. Arvin Kangas was convicted in 2015 on evidence tampering charges and sentenced to 10 years in prison, with 8 of those years to be served.
