Suspected burglar killed in officer involved shooting in Rapid City

RAPID CITY, S.D.- A suspected burglar is dead after an officer involved shooting with Rapid City police officers.

According to Rapid City Police Chief Don Hedrick, the Rapid City Police Department responded to a home on James Warren Drive shortly after 1:30 p.m. on March 26.

Officers were called for reports of a burglary in progress, after a homeowner returned to his residence and believed it had been broken into, and that someone may still be inside.

At the homeowner’s request, a group of 6 Rapid City Police Officers entered the residence, and encountered a man armed with a long gun pointed at the officers in one of the rooms.

Two RCPD officers fired at the individual and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Chief Deputy Brian Mueller, The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office then responded to the scene and took control.

“The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene, took control over the scene, maintained scene security and safety,” says Chief Deputy Brian Mueller, explaining that this is standard protocol in an officer involved shooting. “The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation was called. We always have a third independent party, a law enforcement agency come in and handle these investigations. The DCI is on scene, the investigation is turned over to them and we’re not able to release any further information at this time.”

Chief Hedrick added that no officers were injured in the shooting. “More information will come out,” says Chief Hedrick. “We’re just not at liberty to share it because this is still very early in the investigation and the DCI will be the ones taking it over from here.”

The investigation is ongoing, so updates will be provided as more information is released.