NEW: Suspect dead in officer-involved shooting in Rapid City (Audio)

January 20, 2023

RAPID CITY, S.D. — One person has died after an officer-involved shooting in Rapid City just after 10 p.m. Thursday night.

A Rapid City Police officer made contact with an individual in the area of Surfwood Drive and North Maple Avenue, and the person “took off running from them,” according to Rapid City

Police Chief Don Hedrick and Pennington County Sheriff Brian Mueller.

Hedrick says an officer pursued the individual on foot, and “a struggle of some sort ensued.”

The police officer drew and attempted to use their taser during the struggle, and the individual then pointed a firearm at the officer. Hedrick says in response, the police officer fired upon the armed individual, who was struck and killed…

Hedrick says the police officer was not injured in the shooting.

The South Dakota DCI will investigate the shooting to determine whether the officers’ actions were justified.