FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, Sept. 5, 2025

Contact: Tony Mangan, Communications Director, 605-773-6878 

Attorney General Jackley, DCI Rule Haakon County Officer

Involved Shooting In Hostage Situation Justified

PIERRE, S.D. -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces a South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) review has determined that three officers were justified in their use of force during a pursuit and hostage situation that occurred Tuesday night, Aug. 5, in Haakon County.

“Tribal, state, and local law enforcement officers placed themselves in harm’s way to protect the hostage and the public,” said Attorney General Jackley. “The officers were justified in the use of force to protect the hostage and themselves.”

 The Aug. 5 incident began when Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services (CRST-LES) Officers Initiated a vehicle pursuit related to a weapons call near the Green Grass Community on the reservation. The pursuit eventually traveled outside the reservation into Haakon County.

Multiple law enforcement agencies joined in the high-speed pursuit. The vehicle became disabled and the driver, later identified as Shace Wayne Looking Horse, 31, of Eagle Butte, pulled into a rural property approximately five miles north of Midland. There, he exchanged gunfire with two CRST-LES officers. No one was injured, but three CRST-LES vehicles sustained damage. 

 Looking Horse took a female occupant hostage at gunpoint and stole a vehicle from the rural property north of Midland. The pursuit continued through Haakon County until the second vehicle was disabled.

 The vehicle stopped at a rural homestead 13 miles east of Philip. Looking Horse left the vehicle while holding the hostage at gunpoint. A South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper fatally shot Looking Horse. The hostage was unharmed and received medical attention on scene. The law enforcement officers were not injured.

 DCI processed the crime scene, conducted a forensic examination of all collected evidence, interviewed those involved, and reviewed all available video. Two weapons used by Looking Horse were recovered at the second scene.

 Testing of Looking Horse’s blood and urine showed he tested positive for cannabinoids, ethanol (alcohol), methamphetamine, amphetamine, norfentanyl, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine. Blood and urine samples of the three officers who had discharged their weapons tested negative for alcohol or illegal drugs.

 Looking Horse’s criminal record included previous arrests for several different offenses. At the time of this incident, Looking Horse had an active federal arrest warrant for a probation violation regarding a weapons offense and was on federal supervised release status.

 Law enforcement agencies that assisted were the U.S. Marshal’s Office, the FBI, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, Haakon County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Jones County Sheriff’s Office, Stanley County Sheriff’s Office, and Philip Police Department.

This is the sixth Officer Involved Shooting in South Dakota this year.

 DCI’s summary of the Aug 5 investigation can be found here: https://atg.sd.gov/docs/August%204%202025%20OIS%20Summary%20Haakon%20County%208.5.25.pdf

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