RAPID CITY, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that an investigation by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) found three officers were justified in their use of force during a high-speed pursuit and hostage situation that concluded in Haakon County on August 5. The incident involved law enforcement from multiple agencies in the Black Hills and greater South Dakota region.
The event began when Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services (CRST-LES) officers initiated a vehicle pursuit of Shace Wayne Looking Horse, 31, of Eagle Butte, on the reservation. The pursuit crossed into Haakon County and involved multiple law enforcement agencies.
The chase ended when Looking Horse’s vehicle became disabled. He then took a female occupant hostage at gunpoint, stole a second vehicle from a rural property, and continued the pursuit. The second vehicle was disabled 13 miles east of Philip. Looking Horse left the vehicle holding the hostage, and a South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper fatally shot him. The hostage was unharmed.
According to the DCI review, Looking Horse tested positive for multiple substances, including methamphetamine and alcohol. DCI processed the scene, conducted a forensic examination, interviewed those involved, and reviewed video. Two weapons used by Looking Horse were recovered.
At the time of the incident, Looking Horse had an active federal arrest warrant for a probation violation related to a weapons offense. The Haakon County shooting marks the sixth officer-involved shooting in South Dakota this year. Law enforcement agencies from across South Dakota and the Black Hills assisted, including the Haakon County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshal’s Office.