Rexford Family Holds Rally After Troopers Cleared in Shooting

Relatives demand release of full body cam footage, claim edited video doesn't show 'the truth'

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:06am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a police-issued knife against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the stark, gritty details of a controversial officer-involved shooting.A harsh, unforgiving spotlight on the physical evidence at the heart of a controversial police shooting that has torn a family apart.Fairbanks Today

The family of William and Adam Rexford, who were shot by Alaska State Troopers in an officer-involved incident on New Year's Day, held a rally in Fairbanks on Saturday. This comes a day after prosecutors cleared the troopers involved, saying they were legally justified in using deadly force. The Rexford family disputes the official account and is calling for the release of unedited body cam footage.

Why it matters

The case has sparked outrage in the local community over the use of force by law enforcement, with the Rexford family alleging the troopers did not properly handle a mental health crisis situation. The family's rally and demands for transparency highlight ongoing tensions between police and residents, especially around incidents involving vulnerable individuals.

The details

According to the incident report, troopers were called to the Rexford home for a disturbance, and 24-year-old William Rexford charged at a trooper with a knife. William was fatally shot, while his brother Adam was also hit by gunfire and suffered injuries including vision loss and a staph infection. The family claims William was experiencing a mental health crisis, and that the troopers did not properly secure the home or attempt de-escalation tactics before using deadly force.

  • The incident occurred on New Year's Day 2026.
  • The Office of Special Prosecutions released its decision clearing the troopers on April 12, 2026.
  • The Rexford family rally took place on April 13, 2026, the day after the prosecutors' decision.

The players

William Rexford

A 24-year-old man who was fatally shot by Alaska State Troopers during the incident, with his family claiming he was experiencing a mental health crisis.

Adam Rexford

William's brother, who was also shot by troopers and suffered injuries including vision loss and a staph infection, with his family describing him as a bystander.

Donna Rexford

The mother of William and Adam Rexford, who spoke at the rally and criticized the troopers' actions, claiming the released body cam footage was edited and did not show 'the truth'.

Linda Rexford

The sister of William and Adam Rexford, who spoke at the rally and demanded answers about what happened to her brothers.

Alaska State Troopers

The law enforcement agency whose troopers were involved in the shooting incident with the Rexford brothers.

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What they’re saying

“We need the full camera [footage]. They cannot vilify my son. He was having a bad day, like a lot of us, but they shouldn't have come in, and they didn't even secure our house. They should have done a lot of other things than shoot my two boys.”

— Donna Rexford, Mother of William and Adam Rexford

“We are seeking the truth of what happened to my brothers, what happened to my brothers that day. It's been over three months since the shooting and we have not been given any answers.”

— Linda Rexford, Sister of William and Adam Rexford

“Any statement that we edited evidence or provided kind of an alternate version of the facts to the family is patently false. It's straight continuous from when they activated it, until the incident kind of moves into the first aid part of the response. There are some very minor redactions to protect some witness identities, some people that were not directly involved in the incident, just a blurring of faces. But there's no sections of the video that have been removed. There's no sections of the video that have been blacked out completely, as well as any audio.”

— Austin McDaniel, Communications Director, Alaska State Troopers

What’s next

The Rexford family has vowed to continue pressing for the release of the full, unedited body cam footage from the incident, in an effort to uncover what they believe is the 'truth' about the shooting.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between law enforcement and local communities, especially around incidents involving mental health crises and the use of force. It underscores the need for greater transparency, de-escalation training, and improved crisis response protocols to prevent such tragedies.