OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN PENNINGTON COUNTY

PIERRE, S.D.-  South Dakota Attorney General Marty J. Jackley confirms that the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, at the request of the Pennington County Sheriff’s Department, is investigating the officer involved shooting that occurred on May 2, 2010. The incident occurred at the Sunny Side Mobile Home Community on Everest Road, off of North Highway 79, in Pennington County. The suspect involved in the shooting, Christopher J. Capps, age 22, has died from multiple gunshot wounds. 

The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office received a report that an unknown man in his mid-twenties was assaulting a 15-year-old boy which ultimately resulted in the boy’s treatment at Rapid City Regional Hospital.  A Pennington County Sheriff’s Deputy responding to the call made contact with two subjects in a field, suspect Capps and a second individual pursuing him after the assault of the 15-year-old boy.   The reported reason for the officer’s actions was that the officer was acting in response to the suspect’s exhibiting threatening and aggressive behavior to both the individual and the officer.

At the completion of the investigation, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation will issue a case report and shooting summation to be reviewed by the Attorney General, Pennington County State’s Attorney, and Pennington County Sheriff’s Office for a final determination on the officer’s actions.