FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, May 21, 2026
Contact: Tony Mangan, Communications Director, 605-773-6878
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley commends the South Dakota Supreme Court for upholding the conviction and life sentence of David J. Shangreaux, Jr., a Pierre man found guilty by a Hughes County jury of second-degree murder for the November 2023 killing of a teenage victim, identified in court records as E.M.
The Court’s opinion, released Thursday, concluded that the Circuit Court did not err in allowing the State’s peremptory strike of a juror challenged under Batson v. Kentucky. The court also found the prosecution’s closing argument statements did not deprive the defendant of a fair trial.
“This tragic case involved the loss of a young life, and I am grateful for the thorough work of law enforcement and prosecutors, as well as the Court’s careful review,” said Attorney General Jackley. “We keep the victim and their family in our thoughts and prayers.”
On Nov. 30, 2023, Pierre Police responded to the Pierre residence shared by Shangreaux and his girlfriend after calling 911. Upon detaining Shangreaux and searching the apartment, officers discovered E.M. deceased in the bathroom with multiple stab wounds. Forensic evidence, including fingerprints, DNA, and blood found on Shangreaux’s clothing, linked him to the fatal stabbing. Shangreaux also gave shifting accounts of the incident during police interviews.
A Hughes County jury convicted Shangreaux of second-degree murder in April 2025. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. The Supreme Court’s decision affirms both the conviction and sentence.
South Dakota’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and Pierre Police Department investigated the case. The prosecution was conducted by the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office and the Hughes County State’s Attorney’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office also represented the State on the appeal.
The Supreme Court’s opinion can be read here: https://ujs.sd.gov/media/gl2miqsk/31143.pdf
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