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Kevin Ray Kirchner

Age : 40

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/12/2024

Location : U.S. Highway 50 west of Vermillion

City : Vermillion

County : Vermillion

State : South Dakota

Agency : Vermillion Police Department (VPD)

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Suicide

Event : Suicide under police duress

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/12/2024, the Vermillion Police Department received information that 40-year-old Kevin Ray Kirchner was suicidal, was armed with a rifle, and might be violating a protection order. Officers located Kirchner driving on U.S. Highway 50 west of Vermillion and initiated a traffic stop based on the reported welfare concern and possible protection-order violation.
After Kirchner stopped his vehicle, officers approached on foot. Before officers reached the vehicle, Kirchner shot himself with a rifle. Officers immediately rendered emergency medical aid until EMS arrived, but Kirchner died at the scene from the self-inflicted gunshot wound. The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation was requested to investigate the incident, which is standard procedure for deaths occurring during law enforcement encounters.
Subsequent reporting identified Kirchner by name and confirmed the circumstances leading to the traffic stop. No publicly reported civil lawsuit, settlement, criminal investigation of the officers, or disciplinary action arising from the incident was located through the latest available reporting.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.plaintalk.net/local_news/article_45745c2c-58c9-11ef-b6eb-a35c96f752b2.html
https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/local-news/man-dies-of-self-inflicted-gunshot-after-traffic-stop-near-vermillion/
https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2024/08/13/man-dies-after-self-inflicted-gunshot-during-traffic-stop-near-vermillion/