Barney People’s Memorial

RAPID CITY —At approximately 1:34 pm on March 26 of last year, Rapid City police were called to an abandoned house at 720 James Warren Drive after reports of a possible burglary. The police released a dog on a Lakota man, Barney Peoples, and when Peoples stood up, the police shot 16 times, with several bullets hitting his throat. From the time that the phone call took place to the time he was pronounced dead it took twelve minutes. Peoples was sent to another state to have an autopsy. The family members did not get to view the body. Peoples’ clothes were never retrieved. Peoples was denied due process.

There was a one year memorial of the passing of Barney Peoples hosted by his sister Trinity Peoples. She stated that, “A year ago police used extreme force and shot Barney fifteen times at close range. Barney did not point a gun at officers. He was sitting on the floor listening to loud music when they rushed in and ambushed a harmless disabled innocent man. He never shot a gun before and held no anger or hatred towards cops. He actually liked them. He told me one day, ‘They’re nice, they look for me to return my backpack because my meds are in there.’” The family stated that they witnessed the police body cam footage what appeared to be a gun was beside Peoples but when he stood up he did not have the gun.

The report states that a homeowner reported the burglary after returning from an out-of-state trip. Five Rapid City Police Officers responded to the call and were later joined by a K-9 officer. Officers announced themselves on the ground floor. With no response from the suspect who was on the third floor. The K-9 was deployed.

The South Dakota Forensic Laboratory found and tested 15 shell casings from the scene all of which were found to be from the involved officers’ duty weapons.

The Office of the Attorney General ruled that both officers were justified in firing their weapons and using lethal force. Peoples Jr. died at the scene.

The Family of Peoples had placed a memorial on the place where he had passed with permission from the city. The homeowner had removed the memorial plaque 9 times because he “did not like it”. According to Mat Murphy a witness to the body cam, a sworn affidavit stating stated there was no weapon pointed at officers.  Murphy said Peoples had an expression of surprise on his face when the cops found him. From the sound recording the police did not announce themselves. They opened fire on the victim as soon as they came upon Peoples in the bedroom. The DCI stated the officers told Peoples to put down his weapon. According to the 911 audio the police had not called out before releasing fire upon Peoples. The police audio did not have peoples saying “hold it right there”, and there would have been no time in between peoples fighting off a K9 dog for him to prepare a weapon.  

Peoples died at the scene as a result of his injuries. DCI Agents and an Investigator from the Meade County Sheriff’s Office made contact with the RCPD Officers. DCI Agents documented that the officers were wearing their Rapid City Police Department issued uniforms. Officer’s duty firearms were documented and inventoried. The inventory was documented as follows:

The video shows Peoples standing up while the officers continue to discharge their pistols.

Peoples did not comply, and both officers simultaneously fire their duty weapons multiple times. Officer #1 engaged Peoples from the threshold of the doorway while Officer #2 engaged Peoples from the stairwell and shot twice. • Officer #1shot 14 times.

Peoples then fell on the floor in the bedroom. No bullets were discharged from People’s. Police shootings of Native Americans are generating greater attention after recent reports reveal that Native Americans are more likely to be killed by the police than any other racial group in the United States.  

 

Contact Christopher A.Piña  (staffwriter3@nativesunnews.today)

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