Brothers charged with killing man outside Fairbanks bar

FAIRBANKS — Two brothers have been indicted on murder charges for the shooting death of a man outside a Fairbanks bar last year.

A grand jury indicted Patrick Burton-Hill, 23, and Kelvin Burton, 20, this week for the May 2015 shooting. They both face first- and second-degree murder charges in the death of John Kavairlook, The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported.

Patrick Burton-Hill has been identified as the person who shot the 23-year-old victim after an argument in the Rock N Rodeo bar. Police say he and several other men continued the fight outside the bar and escalated to throwing rocks before the shots were fired.

Patrick Burton-Hill was arrested by Fairbanks detectives in Ohio in June. He is currently awaiting trial on an assault charge in Cleveland and will be extradited to Fairbanks once the case is resolved.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Kelvin Burton.

The brothers are the last of five suspects to be indicted in the case. The investigation into Kavairlook’s death covered six states, nine agencies and nearly 60 search warrants, according to Fairbanks police Det. Peyton Merideth.

“While the actual shooting death of John Kavairlook was captured on video surveillance, determining the identity of the individuals involved was difficult due to the fact that none of the suspects had significant ties to the Fairbanks area,” he said.

The others facing charges in the case include Joel Roland Joseph, who was arrested in Texas on Oct. 27, and his brother David Gregory Joseph, who was picked up on the same day in Anchorage.

Damarius William Hinson was arrested the following day in Florida on a $500,000 first-degree hindering prosecution warrant.

Alaska State Troopers and Anchorage police worked with law enforcement officers in California, Ohio, Texas, Florida and Nevada, as well as the FBI and the U.S. Marshal’s Office in the search for the suspects, according to Merideth.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

A person is detained in Anchorage in recent days by officials from the FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (FBI Anchorage Field Office photo)
Trump’s immigration raids arrive in Alaska, while Coast Guard in state help deportations at southern US border

Anchorage arrests touted by FBI, DEA; Coast Guard plane from Kodiak part of “alien expulsion flight operations.”

Two flags with pro-life themes, including the lower one added this week to one that’s been up for more than a year, fly along with the U.S. and Alaska state flags at the Governor’s House on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Doublespeak: Dunleavy adds second flag proclaiming pro-life allegiance at Governor’s House

First flag that’s been up for more than a year joined by second, more declarative banner.

Students play trumpets at the first annual Jazz Fest in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Sandy Fortier)
Join the second annual Juneau Jazz Fest to beat the winter blues

Four-day music festival brings education of students and Southeast community together.

Frank Richards, president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., speaks at a Jan. 6, 2025, news conference held in Anchorage by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy and Randy Ruaro, executive director of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, are standing behind RIchards. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
For fourth consecutive year, gas pipeline boss is Alaska’s top-paid public executive

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, had the highest compensation among state legislators after all got pay hike.

Juneau Assembly Member Maureen Hall (left) and Mayor Beth Weldon (center) talk to residents during a break in an Assembly meeting Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, about the establishment of a Local Improvement District that would require homeowners in the area to pay nearly $6,300 each for barriers to protect against glacial outburst floods. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Flood district plan charging property owners nearly $6,300 each gets unanimous OK from Assembly

117 objections filed for 466 properties in Mendenhall Valley deemed vulnerable to glacial floods.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Friday, Jan. 31, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read