Suspects charged in Birchwood Homes homicide shooting identified

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The Fairbanks Police Department (FPD) arrested and charged two Fairbanks men on March 8 for the shooting death of two people that occurred at Brooks Court in Fairbanks on August 7, 2022.

After a thorough investigation lasting over six months, 20-year-old Kapri Raymond Saleem Willis and 20-year-old Joshua Marquez Bell are charged with two counts of Murder in the First Degree for the murders of 29-year-old Ricardo James Duperior and 18-year-old Rachel Elizabeth Wright.

In a recorded statement, “Bell identified himself and Willis as the killers and provided a detailed account of the events leading up to, during, and after the murders,” according to the FPD press release.

Timeline of events:

On August 7, 2022 FPD responded to a report of a double-homicide shooting at a residence on Brooks Court, in the Birchwood Homes area of Fairbanks. The two deceased victims, Duperior and Wright were found at the scene. https://www.webcenterfairbanks.com/2022/08/08/two-people-are-dead-after-shooting-birchwood-homes/

February 9, 2023. Detectives recovered two handguns used in the murders.

February 27, 2023. Bell made a recorded call to a detective who claimed to be a hitman and stated, “he wanted Willis to be killed and for it to look like a suicide.” Bell said, “He wanted the suicide note to say that he, Bell, had nothing to do with the murders and that Willis had set him up.” Bell would pay the hitman $10,000 to murder Willis.

March 8, 2023. FPD detectives arrested Kapri Willis and charged him with two counts of Murder in the First Degree. He is currently at the Fairbanks Correctional Center.

Joshua Marquez Bell is already incarcerated at the Fairbanks Correctional Center and is charged with two counts of Murder in the First Degree, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Solicitation of Murder in the First Degree.

FPD detectives are asking if anyone has additional information regarding these murders to contact them at fpdinvestigations@fairbanks.us or call 907-450-6550.

Copyright 2023 KTVF. All rights reserved.