SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota DCI has ruled that an officer-involved shooting last month in western South Dakota was justified.
The incident involved multiple uses of spike strips and a hostage situation before authorities fatally shot Shace Looking Horse.
Investigators say it all began with a report of an intoxicated man firing a gun in the Green Grass Community on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.
When officers attempted to stop Looking Horse, he took off, reaching speeds of over 100 mph. The report says he swerved at officers.
The pursuit extended into Stanley and Haakon Counties.
On Highway 14, authorities deployed a spike strip that flattened two of Looking Horse’s tires. That forced him to pull over near Midland. Authorities say that’s where he exchanged gunfire with officers, took a woman hostage, stole a vehicle and forced the woman to drive.
Inside the vehicle, investigators say Looking Horse held a gun to the woman’s head, pulled her hair and told her she was quote “probably going to die.”
“There was a strong effort by tribal, state and local law enforcement to protect her. They did that,” South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said.
The report says another spike strip forced Looking Horse to stop, and that’s when he fired at least one round through the windshield of a South Dakota Highway Patrol vehicle before stopping at a rural property east of Philip.
Authorities say Looking Horse got out of the vehicle and held the woman at gunpoint.
The report says a trooper shot and killed him.
“They were really left with no other choice. It was an appropriate and unfortunate use of force,” Jackley said.
The hostage was unharmed, and no one from law enforcement was hurt. An autopsy performed on Looking Horse revealed the presence of methamphetamine and a host of other drugs and alcohol.
At the time of the incident, Looking Horse had an active federal arrest warrant for a probation violation involving a weapons offense.
