RAPID CITY, S.D. – Today, Seventh Circuit Judge Joshua Hendrickson sentenced 30-year-old Derrek Brave Heart to 30 years in prison for the February 2024 shooting death of 43-year-old Jonathan Odom. In March of 2025, a Pennington County jury found Brave Heart guilty of first-degree manslaughter.
The incident occurred outside the Family Dollar parking lot on Haines Avenue in Rapid City. Brave Heart shot Odom following an argument. According to the trial testimony, the two men did not know each other. Odom was transported to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Brave Heart claimed he acted in self-defense after Odom struck him during the altercation. However, prosecutors argued that Brave Heart had multiple opportunities to de-escalate the situation and instead chose to provoke and escalate the conflict.
During sentencing, Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Gina Nelson stated:
“Let me be clear one more time: This was not self-defense. This was a killing born of ego and anger. And because of that choice, Jonathan Odom is dead.” She continued, “This is not a man who made a mistake in the heat of a terrifying moment. Not a good guy with a gun. This is a man who escalated, provoked, and executed-and then celebrated it.”
Video evidence presented at trial showed Odom slapping Brave Heart in the face. The footage captured Brave Heart then threatening to shoot Odom, even as Odom backed away. Brave Heart fired and continued shouting slurs at the victim as he fell to the ground.
First-degree manslaughter is a Class C felony in South Dakota, punishable by up to life in prison and a $50,000 fine.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy State’s Attorney Braedon Houdek and Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Gina Nelson.
