Death by Cop  2022-2024

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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17

Juan Jose Puente Jr.

Age :35

Gender :Male

Race : White

Date : 11/01/2024

Location : The Place at Hainesway on 1314 Atlas Street

City : Rapid City

County : Pennington

State : South Dakota

Agency : Rapid City Police Department

Officer(s) : Not disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during armed disturbance call

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Rapid City PD were called to a Pizza Hut business for a man waving a gun around. Police arrived and alleged that he pointed the gun out of the window at them and they shot and killed him.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.kotatv.com/2024/11/01/rapid-city-man-shot-by-police-after-allegedly-pointing-gun-officers-pizza-hut/

Kevin Ray Kirchner

Age :40

Gender :Male

Race : White

Date : 08/12/2024

Location : Highway 50

City : Vermillion

County : Vermillion

State : South Dakota

Agency : Vermillion Police Department (VPD)

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Suicide under police duress

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

A man was driving toward Vermillion and police were notified that he was suicidal, had a rifle and maybe be in violation of a protection order. Police found and traffic stopped him. When police approached his car, he reportedly shot himself and died.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.plaintalk.net/local_news/article_45745c2c-58c9-11ef-b6eb-a35c96f752b2.html

Daniel Todd Augustine

Age :26

Gender :Male

Race : Native American

Date : 07/03/2024

Location : Get ‘N Go on 14th and Minnesota

City : Sioux Falls

County : Minnehaha

State : South Dakota

Agency : Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, SWAT

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during hostage event

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Daniel Augustine allegedly took hostages at a business. When Sioux Falls PD arrived, they heard shots, called the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office and SWAT. SWAAT arrived and a sniper shot and killed Daniel Augustine.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/crime/2024/07/03/1-killed-in-officer-involved-shooting-in-sioux-falls-dci-investigates-south-minnesota-ave/74289872007/

https://www.sdpb.org/crime-courts/2024-07-03/suspect-fatally-shot-in-downtown-sioux-falls-hostage-situation

Logan Reed Cazer

Age :33

Gender :Male

Race : White

Date : 10/08/2023

Location : Unknown

City : Mitchell

County : Davidson

State : South Dakota

Agency : Davidson County SO

Officer(s) : Not disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Suicide under police duress

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

After someone had fired a threatening shot in the home during an argument with a relative, deputies arrived, the man fled and police found him outside. When deputies approached him, he committed suicide under police duress.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/one-person-dead-from-self-inflicted-gunshot-following-rural-davison-county-incident

Name Not Disclosed

Age :

Gender :Male

Race : Unknown

Date : 10/08/2023

Location : Unknown

City : Mitchell

County : Davidson

State : South Dakota

Agency : Davidson County SO

Officer(s) : Unknown

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Suicide under police duress

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Davidson County deputies were sent to a home where someone had fired a threatening shot in the home during an argument with a relative. When they arrived, the man fled and police found him outside. When deputies approached him, he committed suicide under police duress.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/one-person-dead-from-self-inflicted-gunshot-following-rural-davison-county-incident

Kyle Whiting

Age :25

Gender :Male

Race : Native American

Date : 05/30/2023

Location : Star Village, 100 block of E Signal Dr

City : Rapid City

County : Pennington

State : South Dakota

Agency : Rapid City PD, Pennington County SD

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police for violating court order

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Kyle Whiting and another man refused to leave a residence on police orders. Whiting had a court order prohibiting him from being at the residence. Police allege that he pointed a gun. They shot and killed him during a foot pursuit. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley cleared the officers.No officers were charged.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.newscenter1.tv/news/update-one-person-has-died-in-officer-involved-shooting-at-star-village-in-rapid-city/article_42c5b9a2-ff25-11ed-85bc-0736da916c44.html#:~:text=After%20the%20investigation%20is%20complete,is%20anticipated%20within%2030%20days.

https://www.newscenter1.tv/news/rapid-city-officer-involved-shooting-ruled-justified-by-attorney-general/article_1bb41260-1c20-11ee-875e-03b545d64190.html

https://www.kbhbradio.com/news/officer-involved-shooting-in-rapid-city-under-investigation

https://chadronradio.com/rapid-city-office-kills-person-who-pointed-gun-during-foot-chase/

https://drgnews.com/2023/05/31/attorney-generals-office-dci-to-review-officer-involved-shooting-in-rapid-city-2/

https://www.kotatv.com/2023/05/31/neighbor-says-man-killed-star-village-shooting-did-not-have-gun/

Anna Selwyn 1 of 2

Age :27

Gender :Female

Race : Native American

Date : 05/10/2023

Location : Hwy 50

City : Yankton

County : Yankton

State : South Dakota

Agency : Yankton County SO

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Yankton County deputies initiated a chase around 10 a.m. on 05/10/2023 when a driver refused to stop for a state trooper on state highway 50 outside Yankton. Police escalated the chase to over 100 mph until the vehicle crashed into a semitruck trailer. Two people were killed and 1 critically injured in the fleeing vehicle. The couple had driven the car out of an impound lot which caused the police chase.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/local-news/yankton-county-releases-names-of-individuals-killed-in-high-speed-chase/

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/south-dakota/articles/2023-05-10/2-killed-1-critically-injured-after-south-dakota-police-chase-at-speeds-over-100-mph-ends-in-crash

https://www.ktiv.com/2023/07/27/sheriff-releases-update-pursuit-that-ended-fatal-cash-near-yankton-sd/

Gabriel Ortega 2 of 2

Age :26

Gender :Male

Race : Native American

Date : 05/10/2023

Location : Hwy 50

City : Yankton

County : Yankton

State : South Dakota

Agency : Yankton County SO

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Yankton County deputies initiated a chase around 10 a.m. on 05/10/2023 when a driver refused to stop for a state trooper on state highway 50 outside Yankton. Police escalated the chase to over 100 mph until the vehicle crashed into a semitruck trailer. Two people were killed and 1 critically injured in the fleeing vehicle. The couple had driven the car out of an impound lot which caused the police chase.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/local-news/yankton-county-releases-names-of-individuals-killed-in-high-speed-chase/

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/south-dakota/articles/2023-05-10/2-killed-1-critically-injured-after-south-dakota-police-chase-at-speeds-over-100-mph-ends-in-crash

https://www.ktiv.com/2023/07/27/sheriff-releases-update-pursuit-that-ended-fatal-cash-near-yankton-sd/

Dennis “Berta” Enoch

Age :35

Gender :Male

Race : Native American

Date : 04/03/2023

Location : Lake Andes Jail

City : Lake Andes

County : Charles Mix

State : South Dakota

Agency : Charles Mix County SO

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Medical emergency

Event : Died in jail of unknown causes after arrest for disorderly conduct

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Robert Dennis “Berta” Enoch had known mental health issues he embraced when he expressed a desire to get well. He had secured a place at a treatment center just days before his death. On the day he died while waiting for his treatment to begin, he was found in the street “screaming and yelling” and “being disorderly” according to police. Deputies arrested him. He died in jail. No diagnosis was ever publicly released and it is unknown what happened to him after the arrest that led to his in-custody death.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://lailluminator.com/2023/04/15/family-left-with-questions-after-man-dies-in-custody-of-rural-sheriffs-office/

David VanWagner

Age :42

Gender :Male

Race : White

Date : 02/06/2023

Location : 245th St+ 402nd Ave

City : Mitchell

County : Davidson

State : South Dakota

Agency : Davidson

Officer(s) : Unknown

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Mitchell PD alleges that David Van Wagner was being sought for questioning about an alleged crime. They found the vehicle near Lake Mitchell, tried to stop the driver and when he did not stop, police escalated a chase. The vehicle fled west on 245th Street and was chased by the South Dakota Highway Patrol for about two-and-a-half hours escalating to 100 mph. Upon crashing, David VanWagner, the 42-year-old driver, was partially ejected when the vehicle rolled over into the ditch. He died. No officers were charged.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://news.yahoo.com/sheriff-100-mph-chase-resulted-004900849.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAF59oCKHXpMS4PWJSjm2aF3SlLNdR7fT80efQhkdPSfHTXzxGbKR0mKcSHVn0UjQjisqQo80rorstl3b38RgenFy1706sE1TlH4xu0u_f3XslwLOKtLskqibNCuc6FwAXxz3gtLsasizjEe6Ec1_mQBQnY7ocqgS2pKxlHHjGEDF

Eric James Wright

Age :33

Gender :Male

Race : Native American

Date : 02/03/2023

Location : 1601 Haines Ave

City : Rapid City

County : Pennington

State : South Dakota

Agency : Pennington County SO, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Rapid City PD, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks

Officer(s) : Unknown

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during hostage situation

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Police allege that around 12:00 a call was received that an individual held the clerk at the Loaf ‘N Jug on Haines Avenue in Rapid City hostage with a knife. A bystander tried to disarm him but he regained control and continued holding the clerk hostage.
A Rapid City PD officer arrived on scene and shot and killed Eric James Wright. Police allege that he had been suicidal. No officers were charged.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.newscenter1.tv/large-police-presence-at-loaf-n-jug-on-haines-avenue/

Ira Julian Wright

Age :34

Gender :Male

Race : Native American

Date : 01/18/2023

Location : Surfwood Drive and Maple Street

City : Rapid City

County : Pennington

State : South Dakota

Agency : Rapid City Police Department

Officer(s) : Unknown

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during foot pursuit

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Rapid City PD allege that a man was holding a clerk hostage at Loaf’N’Jug with a knife. Police arrived and shot him dead during a foot pursuit.No officers were charged.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.kotatv.com/2023/01/20/one-person-is-dead-following-rapid-city-officer-involved-shooting/

https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/rapid-city-officer-justified-in-january-shooting/

https://chadronradio.com/fatal-shooting-by-rapid-city-police-ruled-justified/

https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/south-dakota/attorney-generals-office-to-review-officer-involved-shooting-in-rapid-city

https://atg.sd.gov/docs/january%2018%202023%20Wright%20OIS%20Summary%20draft%205.pdf

James Mathew Murphy

Age :58

Gender :Male

Race : White

Date : 11/18/2022

Location : 330 Philadelphia

City : Rapid City

County : Pennington

State : South Dakota

Agency : Rapid City PD

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during mental health crisis

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Rapid City PD responded to a call about someone having a mental health crisis. Police said that they encountered Murphy while holding a knife and that he ran toward the officer shot and killed him. He had been a father and military veteran.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/south-dakota/articles/2022-11-18/rapid-city-police-officer-shoots-kills-knife-wielding-man

https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/officer-shoots-man-wielding-knife-rapid-city-police-say/

https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/01/12/ag-rapid-city-police-shooting-justified/

https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/state-officer-justified-in-shooting-rapid-city-man/article_78c0c0d4-133f-557d-9ea1-d2101c7e08b6.html

Jacob Michael James

Age :21

Gender :Male

Race : Native American

Date : 08/09/2022

Location : 2507 W 12th St

City : Sioux Falls 57104

County : Minnehaha

State : South Dakota

Agency : Sioux Falls PD, Minnehaha County SO

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during attempted

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Police conducted a traffic stop. Police claim that Lakota man Jacob Michael James stopped, got out of the car and began shooting at police. They shot and killed him. The shooter officers were cleared just 2 weeks later by the District Attorney.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.millerfh.com/obituary/jacob-james

https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/south-dakota/sioux-falls-officers-cleared-of-charges-in-firing-21-shots-at-suspect-in-aug-9-shootout-killing-him

https://unicornriot.ninja/2022/sioux-falls-native-community-rallies-for-justice-in-police-killing-of-lakota-youth-jacob-james/

Marvin Lee Moran Jr.

Age :47

Gender :Male

Race : Native American

Date : 07/26/2022

Location : 1500 block of Haines Ave

City : Rapid City

County : Pennington

State : South Dakota

Agency : Rapid City PD

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during “shots fired” call

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Rapid City PD were called to the 100 block of Haines Ave where a man brandished and fired a gun. Police arrived and claim that he pointed a gun at them. They shot and killed him.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.blackhillsfox.com/2022/07/27/one-dead-after-officer-involved-shooting/

https://apnews.com/article/police-shootings-south-dakota-sd-state-wire-6fdeb764ba83a69dad28c1b8beab3e65

https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/officer-involved-shooting-in-rapid-city-leaves-one-man-dead/

https://www.newscenter1.tv/south-dakota-attorney-general-dci-release-statement-on-rcpd-officer-involved-shooting/

Glenn Nisich

Age :57

Gender :Male

Race : White

Date : 07/03/2022

Location : 1800 block of 29th St NE

City : Sioux Falls

County : Minnehaha

State : South Dakota

Agency : Sioux Falls PD, Minnehaha County SO

Officer(s) : Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during arrest

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Police arrived at the 1800 block of 29th St. to arrest Glenn Nisich for an earlier incident. The police state that he fired shots toward them as well as a police drone. Police killed him.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2022/07/05/sioux-falls-neighborhood-reacts-fatal-standoff/

https://www.thepublicopinion.com/story/news/2022/07/07/watertown-native-believed-suspect-shot-sioux-falls-police/10006660002/

https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2022/08/20/south-dakota-dci-says-sioux-falls-police-officer-justified-lethal-force-shooting-suspect/7854417001/

Cody Wade Kelly

Age :41

Gender :Male

Race : White

Date : 04/01/2022

Location : Unknown

City : Sioux Falls

County : Minehaha

State : South Dakota

Agency : Sioux falls PD

Officer(s) : Not Disclose

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during “man with knife” call

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

night to check on an individual in northwest Sioux Falls, on the 1900 block of west 6th Street, were confronted by Cody Wade Kelly whom they were called to check on, who was in possession of a knife. The officers attempted verbal de-escalation, less-lethal impact launcher, and tasers, which police say were all unsuccessful.
Officers engaged in a physical struggle and an officer shot and killed him. He had six bullets in his body

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2022/04/01/police-one-dead-after-officer-involved-shooting/