The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating a shooting involving a Beresford Police Department officer that occurred Friday night (Nov. 21, 2025) in Beresford.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, a Beresford Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on a Ford Explorer at 8:48 p.m. Friday night in the parking lot of the Truck Towne Travel Plaza on Highway 46 in Beresford. The officer involved shooting took place during the traffic stop.
36 year old Christopher John Pearson of Aurora, SD, who was the driver of the Ford, was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy is planned. The officer was not injured.
DCI will conduct an investigation and once complete, will issue a summary of the incident within 30 days.
This is the seventh Officer Involved Shooting in South Dakota this year.
Law enforcement agencies assisting with the call were the Beresford Police Department, South Dakota Highway Patrol, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Union County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln County State’s Attorney’s Office.
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