Friday homicide shooting in downtown Fairbanks

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Multiple 911 calls were received by the Fairbanks Emergency Communication Center around 2:25 p.m. Friday, May 6 of a shooting that took place in downtown Fairbanks.

According to a press release, multiple Department of Public Safety Court Service Officers (DPS) heard the shots and responded on foot from the courthouse to the area of 1st Avenue and Cushman Street and found Rolando Pressley, age 26, lying on the sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds. 42 year-old Matthew Lee Myers was apprehended and taken into custody.

Fairbanks Police Officers responded, and working together with DPS, and Fairbanks Fire Department Medics, attempted to save Pressley’s life. He was taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and was pronounced deceased. Pressley’s next of kin has been notified.

Fairbanks Police recovered eight expended cartridges in the area of the shooting, and took a black Glock 9 mm from Meyers. Meyers told FPD detectives he was upset with Pressley after seeing him start a dumpster fire near his house and was intent on finding him and giving him a piece of his mind. Upon finding Pressley, Meyers yelled at him. Pressley then lunged toward him, and he then shot Pressley multiple times. Multiple witnesses reported seeing Meyers shoot Pressley and continue to shoot him after he fell to the ground. The press release also states Pressley was unarmed.

Myers was charged with Murder in the First Degree and booked at the Fairbanks Correctional Center.

Anyone with information regarding this homicide should contact Detective Rob Hall at rhall@fairbanks.us or 907-450-6468.

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