Self-defense shots in Sioux Falls shock others

SIOUX FALLS, SD (Dakota News Now) – Two people have died after a shooting in Sioux Falls and police said it was a case of mistaken identity.

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Police said the shots appeared to have been fired in self-defense because the woman pointed a gun at the motorcyclist and the two men who were killed swung baseball bats at him.

Dancing lights filled the sky over Sioux Falls Thursday evening. Across the street from Roosevelt High School, more lights illuminated a more disturbing scene.

Several shots were fired as witnesses said screams were heard.

“The 23-year-old man swung a baseball bat at the head of a 26-year-old motorcyclist. The 26-year-old motorcyclist had a pistol with him. He ended up shooting that gun,” said Sioux Falls Police Detective Sam Clemens.

A member of the motorcyclist group told Dakota News Now that they were shaken by the incident.

It was a confrontation that should not have happened given the mistaken identities. It felt like they were cornered.

“South Dakota has laws that allow for self-defense, and we encourage people to remove themselves from these situations if possible,” Clemens said.

South Dakota’s “Stand Your Ground” law provides protection from prosecution for anyone acting in self-defense.

Officers must ensure that the details of this incident comply with self-defense laws.

Under South Dakota law, a person is entitled to use force or threaten to use force “if the person has reasonable grounds to believe that the use or threat of force is necessary to resist the impending use of unlawful acts.” To defend violence by the other person.”

After an investigation, they still have to go through a process to check whether charges will be filed or whether the 26-year-old was legally justified.

It will likely come down to whether the bats are considered dangerous and whether there are other options for de-escalation.

“Just because there are avenues for self-defense under state law doesn’t mean there can’t be charges, and so I just want to make that clear. “Certainly this appears to be a superficial case of self-defense where someone is wielding a baseball bat that could be considered a dangerous weapon or a deadly weapon, but that will be a prosecutor’s decision,” Clemens said.

There was also an accident near the same intersection where the shooting occurred, but police said it was unrelated and the driver suffered a medical emergency.

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