Four Dead, One Injured In Native American Community

"SISSETON, SD — Around 3:30 a.m. this morning, Sisseton residents heard sirens blare and, later, a helicopter, likely an air ambulance.

"Within hours, the small Roberts County town would be rocked by the news of a shooting that left four people dead and one critically injured.

"The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation said preliminary investigation results identify Colter Richard Arbach, 22, of Sisseton, as the shooter in the morning incident, according to a release from the state Attorney General's office.

"Officials believe Arbach shot the four other people before killing himself. The bodies were found at a home in Sisseton.

"One of the victims, a female, was in stable condition today at a Fargo hospital, according to earlier Associated Press reports.

"By mid-morning, many from Sisseton's Native American community had gathered at the east end of the blocked-off portion of the street, where a green house sits at the corner of Cherry Street and Fourth Avenue East.

"Some residents had been there since the sirens rang, waiting for news and supporting each other.

"Sisseton Police and Roberts County Sheriff's Office vehicles were guarding the two-block section, keeping bystanders back from the scene.

"Nearly half of Sisseton's 2,470 residents in 2010 were American Indian, according to the U.S. Census. Sisseton is on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, which is in the northeast corner of the state near the borders with North Dakota and Minnesota.

"All of the victims and Arbach are believed to be at least part Native American."

Read more at aberdeennews.com...

Family Member Finds Dead Couple

"SIOUX FALLS, SD — A man and woman were found dead by a family member in a central Sioux Falls home Wednesday after an apparent murder/suicide, police said.

"Sioux Falls Police received a call about 1:54 p.m. from a relative who said gunshots had been fired inside the home at 607 W. 7th St, Lt. Matt Burns said.

"On the first floor of the home, officers found two people dead from gunshot wounds, Burns said. Police had not released the names of the victims, who lived together at the home and were in a relationship, Burns said.

"Police, ambulances and a crime lab vehicle remained in front of the home, just west of Minnesota Avenue, for much of the afternoon as investigators collected evidence.

"As of late afternoon, police said little information was known on what led up the shooting."

From argusleader.com...

Police Suspect Lady Shooter In Death Of Couple

"RAPID CITY, SD — The two people found dead in Rapid City on Saturday night have been identified as Anthony Hutchinson, 57, and Jean Wessel, 54. Both were Rapid City residents.

"Authorities have ruled it as a murder/suicide and noted Monday that the two were in a relationship at the time of their deaths.

"From what officials have determined through their investigation so far they indicated Monday that Wessel shot Hutchinson, then shot herself.

"It all began shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Saturday when a neighbor called the Rapid City Police Department to respond to a disturbance at a home on 925 Fillmore Street.

"`When police arrived, they found Hutchinson and Wessel dead inside the residence,` said Tarah Heupel with the RCPD. `Preliminary autopsy results indicate the cause of death for both Hutchinson and Wessel to be gunshot wounds. Full autopsy results, including toxicology, will take several weeks.`"

From bhpioneer.com...

Pair Survives Attempted Double Murder/Suicide

"CLEAR LAKE, SD — A man shot and wounded two people before killing himself in the northeastern South Dakota city of Clear Lake, Attorney General Marty Jackley said Monday.

"Authorities were called to a home about 9 p.m. Sunday for a reported double shooting. Jackley said two people were flown to a hospital while the man alleged to have shot them, Brett Pommer, 40, barricaded himself inside the residence.

"Officers tried but failed to make contact with Pommer, and SWAT team members eventually entered the home and found Pommer dead of what Jackley said was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"Information on the other two people and their conditions was not immediately released."

From SFGate.com...

Election Night Murder/Suicide

"RAPID CITY, SD — At 9:15 p.m. on Nov. 6, police were called to an apartment at 3 Woodrun Lane for a report of a possible shooting.

"A third party reported that a male inside the residence had a firearm, and had killed his girlfriend.

"The Special Response Team was called out to assist, and they made contact with the man inside. He told police that he had killed his girlfriend, and refused to cooperate further. When SRT made entry to the home, they found the man and a woman inside with gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

"The man has been identified as 58 year old Brad Swanson, of Rapid City. The woman has been identified as 55 year old Deb Olmacher of Rapid City. Swanson and Olmacher both lived at the residence.

"Based on initial evidence, investigators believe this case to be a murder-suicide. The investigation is ongoing."

From KOTA Radio 1380...

Confrontation In Hair Salon Leaves Two Dead

"SIOUX FALLS, SD — Worried about an escalating conflict, Amanda Connors drove up to the door of the hair salon she managed and confronted her employee's boyfriend, who had just kidnapped his two kids after being hit with a protection order and domestic violence arrest.

"The heroic decision cost Connors her life, but the mother's was spared.

"Police said Connors was leaving the Sioux Falls salon Tuesday afternoon when she saw Tyrone Leeon Smith, 38, with the kids in the parking lot. She phoned the store from her car to warn her employees, including Smith's girlfriend, then pulled her car up. Smith exchanged words with Connors as he stood in the Cost Cutters doorway before fatally shooting Connors in the head.

"As her red sedan accelerated into a parked SUV, Smith ducked inside, fired another shot and then zip-tied his girlfriend and her three co-workers.

"A half hour later, Smith let the employees go and put a bullet in his head, police said.

"`I personally don't think his intent was to go to that scene and to kill Amanda,` said Sioux Falls police Chief Doug Barthels. `It was unfortunate that it happened the way it did.

"`Frankly, I kind of see her as a hero.`"

Source: Miami Herald...

Police Arrive To Find Dead Man, Woman

"SIOUX FALLS, SD — Around 8:00 Tuesday night, Sioux Falls police officers responded to a call at 609 S. Wheatland Avenue for a reported disturbance. The address is in a series of residential townhomes.

"At least one witness reported seeing an altercation between a man and a woman outside of a unit and heard yelling followed by gunshots.

"Upon arrival to the complex, officers located a female victim outside of one of the units deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.

"In a nearby unit, officers observed an open door with a second victim inside the unit, also deceased from a gunshot wound.

"The victims are related and this appears to be a domestic situation. There is no threat to public safety and no additional victims were located.

"The victim's names have not been released, pending positive identification and notification of family members.

"The investigation is still underway, but police are calling it a homicide investigation at this time."

From KSFY...

Woman Dead, Shooter Critical In Botched Murder/Suicide

"YANKTON, SD — A Yankton woman is dead after an apparent murder-suicide attempt early Saturday morning.

"According to the Yankton Police Department, Brianna Marie Knoll, 25, died of a gunshot wound in connection with an incident in the 1000 block of Whiting Drive.

"Meanwhile, a male suspect, Nicholas Stewart Hines, 28, was found at 1008 Willow Lane with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, where he was stabilized and transferred to a Sioux Falls hospital. There is no word yet on his condition.

"`We believe it was an (attempted) murder-suicide, a domestic violence case,` Yankton Police Chief Brian Paulsen said during an afternoon press conference.

"Paulsen said the police received a 911 call at 3:18 a.m. Saturday from an individual reporting hearing at least one gunshot in the area of 1006 Whiting Drive. When police arrived, they found a vehicle next to an apartment building. They discovered Knoll in the vehicle.

"`We believe she was in the vehicle when she was shot ... and she was conscious at some point,` Paulsen said.

"He said it appeared Knoll was shot from outside the vehicle.

"Paulsen said Knoll’s car had traveled about a half-block away from the Willow Lane residence before it veered into the apartment. He added that her doors were locked, and police had to break out one of the windows to gain access to her. The vehicle’s engine was running when police arrived.

"When police went to Knoll’s Willow Lane residence, they found the wounded Hines lying in the front yard.

"`He was conscious when we found him,` Paulsen said, adding the police tried talking to Hines but `it was a very limited conversation.`

"Paulsen said police confiscated `multiple weapons` from the Willow Lane residence."

From yankton.net...

Lady Shooter's Motive Unknown

"SIOUX FALLS, SD - Sioux Falls Police are saying a homicide investigation has uncovered a murder-suicide involving a Harrisburg woman and a Sioux Falls man.

"At a news conference today, police spokesman Sam Clemens said that an investigation into the suicide of Kari Jo McFarlane, 45, of Harrisburg led to the discovery of the body of Clint Vanderpoel, 28, at his home in Sioux Falls, and police believe McFarlane was the one who killed Vanderpoel.

"McFarlane was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a friend’s house in the 2500 block of South Ascot Avenue in Sioux Falls at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, Clemens said. The officer investigating the incident received a voicemail early this morning from one of McFarlane’s relatives saying a note was found at McFarlane’s house in Harrisburg that specifically threatened Vanderpoel.

"When police went to Vanderpoel’s house at the 2900 block of North Sweet Grass Avenue today, they found him dead in his bed from a single gunshot wound, most likely from a high-powered rifle, Clemens said. The murder likely happened sometime between 1:15 and 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, he said.

"Police do not have a motive and are not sure if one will be uncovered, Clemens said. Clemens described McFarlane and Vanderpoel as acquaintances who had dated in the past."

From ArgusLeader.com...

911 Call Leads To Grisly Discovery

"Aberdeen, SD - Aberdeen authorities are reviewing evidence and information from interviews in the deaths of two people. They say at this point, preliminary results indicate Jeanne Haugen was shot by someone, while Dennis Haugen died of a self-inflicted gun shot.

"Authorities were called to a home on S. Merton Street Tuesday evening; the caller reported two people had been shot. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the bodies of Dennis Haugen, 39, and Jeanne Haugen, 39."

Source: keloland.com...

Midnight Killing in South Dakota

"Onida, SD - A woman is shot and killed early Thursday morning in Onida, which is a little more than 30 miles northeast of Pierre.

"Sully County authorities believe this was to be a case of murder-suicide.

"The woman killed has been identified as 34 year old Sharon Kleinsasser.

"With the gunman identified as her husband, 38 year old Herman Kleinsasser Junior: He's in critical condition at a Rapid City hospital.

"Sharon Kleinsasser had six children.

"The incident happened shortly after midnight at the Kleinsasser home in Onida."

Source: KSFY...

Two Dead in Parking Lot

"Sioux Falls, SD - Two people were found dead outside HSBC in Sioux Falls this morning in what police say was a murder/suicide.

"A man and a woman – husband and wife, police say – were found lying in the parking lot at 2200 E. Benson Road this morning, according to a press release from police. Both appeared to have been killed by gunshot wounds.

"The female victim was an employee of HSBC. Her husband, the suspect, was not.

"As is customary, police did not release any names prior to notification of relatives."

From ArgusLeader...