Rapid City, S.D. Casino Gunman Shot Dead After Firing at Police

Posted on: July 27, 2022, 12:29h. 

Last updated on: July 27, 2022, 01:53h.

An armed man in the parking lot of a Rapid City, S.D. gaming venue was shot dead by officers Tuesday night after he fired at police. The gunman initially was brandishing a firearm and shooting in the lot before cops arrived, police revealed.

The threatening behavior continued when officers got on the scene. The suspect then fired a handgun at police officers, according to information from a Facebook video from Rapid City Police Chief Don Hedrick. The gunman struck one of the patrol cars.

The officers returned fire. The gunman was killed.

The officers believe the shootout may have been a deliberate attack on police.

“I, for one, am thankful that none of the police officers were hurt or injured tonight after being fired upon,” Hedrick said in the video.

Suspect, Casino Unknown

The gunman was not named. It is likely his body will undergo an autopsy. Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom said there was an outstanding warrant for the gunman for a prior assault on law enforcement charge.

Police also did not identify the casino. They did reveal that it took place in the 1500 block of Haines Avenue. There is one casino there– Chances Casino. It could not be confirmed immediately whether that was the casino where the shooting occurred.

Shooting Under Review

The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) will review the incident. This is standard procedure, given it was an officer-involved shooting. There were 15 witnesses in the parking lot at the time of the incident, authorities said. They will be interviewed by investigators.

Many social media posters praised the officers for their response. They also thanked that no victims nor officers were injured during the shooting.

One poster on Facebook, identified as Lucas Good Shield, recalled the history of the casino and said, “I remember before it was built, the community voted against it. It’s no good for nobody. It should be gone after something like this!”

Prior Incidents

Rapid City casinos have seen several robberies and other violent incidents recently.

In May, a South Dakota teenager charged in connection with a March 19 fatal shooting at the Grand Gateway Hotel, a Rapid City hotel-casino, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. Quincy Bear Robe, 19, is accused of firing the bullet that killed Myron Pourier, also 19.

Also charged in the Joker’s Casino holdup were two women: Shannon Larive, 25, and Karmen Englert, 36. The trio of robbers allegedly used a shotgun in the heist.

In March 2021, Larive and Englert allegedly robbed South Dakota’s Market Square Casino. Larive also allegedly robbed Rushmore Casino, also located in the state.