RAPID CITY, S.D. – A man has been arrested for second degree murder following a fatal assault at a Rapid City apartment complex, the site of several recent violent crimes.
Rapid City police were dispatched to 225 E. Watertown Street on the night of September 8 for a report of an assault. They found 24-year-old Michael Ladeaux of Rapid City with significant injuries. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Witnesses told police they saw several people assaulting Ladeaux in a hallway before they fled into nearby apartments. Police identified one of the suspects as 24-year-old Joshua Thunderhawk of Rapid City. He was arrested for second degree murder and taken to the Pennington County Jail.
This is the second homicide at the Oxford Square Apartments this year, following a murder on August 27. The apartment complex has also been the location of an armed robbery. Police are working with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office on the ongoing investigation.
The Rapid City Police Department said it has dedicated extra resources to patrolling the area and has raised safety concerns with the property management company, Tzadik Management. According to police, ongoing issues at the complex include unsecured vacant apartments, which allow for illegal activity, and a lack of action by management to address repeat unlawful behavior. Police have also expressed concerns about similar issues at other Tzadik properties, including Star Village and Lacrosse Estates.
As police investigated the homicide, additional arrests were made for unrelated warrants and offenses. These individuals were 55-year-old John Blackbear of Allen, 34-year-old Clara Poorbear of Rapid City, 32-year-old Latonna Waters of Rapid City and 34-year-old Dustin Yatsayte of Rapid City.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police at 605-394-4131 or by texting RCPD and their information to 847411.
UPDATE: Police have identified 31-year-old Tyler Ironboy as a potential suspect in the assault which resulted in the death of Ladeaux and have begun a search. Anyone with information pertaining to Ironboy should reach out to the Rapid City Police Department using the contacts listed above.
UPDATE: Tyler Ironboy has been located and taken into custody for Aiding and Abetting Second Degree Murder and a Parole Hold.