MARCH 7, 2023:
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has announced that a Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) review has determined that a Rapid City Police officer was justified in the shooting death of a man during a hostage situation on Feb. 3, 2023.
“This was a fast-moving, tense situation where the suspect presented a clear and present danger to the public and the officer,” said Jackley. “Only when the suspect ran at the officer with a knife in hand, did the officer fire their weapon.”
The incident began when the officer responded to a reported armed robbery in progress at a Rapid City business. When the officer arrived, they encountered Erik James Wright outside of the business holding a clerk at knife point.
Wright separated himself from the hostage but refused the officer’s commands to drop the knife. Wright ran towards the officer with two knives in his possession and was shot multiple times by the officer. Police officers rendered medical aid to Wright who was transported to a Rapid City hospital where he later died.
Video and audio recordings, interviews of officers and witnesses, and examination of evidence by the South Dakota Forensic Laboratory corroborated the findings of DCI investigators and the officer’s account that they faced a clear and present danger and that there was danger to the public and police. Wright had alcohol in his system and was on parole after being released from prison in January, 2023.
The Attorney General and the Division of Criminal Investigation would like to thank the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota Forensic Laboratory their assistance. The Rapid City Police Department cooperated with the investigation.
The summary of the incident can be found here.
FEBRUARY 4, 2023:
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley confirms that the Division of Criminal investigation (DCI), at the request of the Rapid City Police Department, is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred around noon Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.
Rapid City police officers were called to a business for a call of an armed robbery that turned into a hostage situation. The subject refused commands to surrender and was shot by one Rapid City police officer. The suspect was taken to a Rapid City hospital where he later died. Neither the officer nor the hostage were injured.
Jackley said the DCI is working with Pennington County Sheriff’s Office and the South Dakota Highway Patrol on the investigation. Jackley said the Rapid City Police Department is cooperating in the investigation.
The DCI will process the crime scene, conduct a forensic examination of all collected evidence, interview officers and witnesses, and will review all officer-worn body cameras and video cameras from the area.
After the investigation is complete, the DCI will issue a case report and shooting summation to be reviewed by the Attorney General and the Pennington County State’s Attorney for a final determination on the officer’s action. The release of the summary is anticipated within 30 days.
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