Amelia Schafer
ICT + Rapid City Journal
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Over a month ago, Terrance “Big Nation” Little Thunder, Cheyenne River Lakota, was riding his motorcycle on the north side of Rapid City when a vehicle struck him and drove away, leaving him with injuries that would kill him a few days later.
Grieving their loved one and wanting answers on who caused his death, 42-year-old Little Thunder’s family continues to fight for justice and closure. On Oct. 20, the family came one step closer to answers.
Friday morning, the family was notified that several suspects had been apprehended in connection with the fatal hit-and-run. Police also developed information about a Chevy Tahoe they suspect was involved in the crash, which had been found on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The vehicle was previously thought to be a Chevy Silverado.
Little Thunder was struck around 9 p.m. on Sept. 13 at the intersection of College and Haines Avenue while riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
After the crash, he was transported to Monument Health and treated for injuries. Little Thunder was discharged on Sunday, Sept. 17, and died that night.
The truck was located with the help of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.
“The vehicle had been modified to conceal the damage from the impact with the motorcycle,” according to the RCPD.
Although no arrests have been announced, the RCPD stated they identified the occupants of the vehicle. The department plans to test evidence from the truck to identify the driver at the time of the crash.
“It’s clear that multiple parties were involved in the concealment of the damage from the crash, as well as the subsequent transport of the involved vehicle to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation,” the RCPD said in a statement.
With the help of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council, a reward of $20,000 is being offered for information leading to answers in Little Thunder’s death. The reward will be offered until a prosecution is made.
Little Thunder’s family is still reeling from the shock of losing him, but their message is clear: They want answers and they want justice.
“They (the driver) need to come forward, this was our loved one,” Little Thunder’s sister Fancee Hollow Horn said. “We’re all heartbroken over losing Terry.”
Hollow Horn remembers her brother as someone she looked up to who left a positive impact on the people he came into contact with.
“Terry was a star soul in this universe, he was a leader and role model,” Hollow Horn said. “If you met Terry, I bet you walked away smiling.”
Born in Red Scaffold on the Cheyenne River Reservation, Little Thunder was consistently an active and involved member of his tribal community.
Little Thunder was a motorcycle enthusiast and an award-winning basketball player standing at 6’11”. The then-29-year-old’s 2010 journey from Eagle Butte to Haskell University was the subject of an ESPN article.
Little Thunder was known across Indian Country for his basketball skills and his sportsmanship, earning him his nickname “Big Nation.”
Little Thunder became friends with nearly everyone he met, his aunt Mia fondly remembers taking him on road trips with her group of fellow veterans.
Despite his imposing height, his family described him as a gentle giant. Little Thunder was incredibly humble, gentle and loving. Anytime they needed help, Little Thunder would be there to help — he never complained, they said.
Before the accident, Little Thunder wanted to return to Haskell to continue his education.
“Terry had a big heart, he really cared for everybody and he enjoyed everything he did,” Little Thunder’s mother Candace Hollow Horn said.
The RCPD is still seeking information about the initial crash on Sept. 13 and the subsequent efforts to transport the vehicle and conceal signs of damage from the crash.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact Detective Nathan Senesac at 605-394-4134. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by texting ‘RCPD’ with information to 847411.
The NDN Collective is also helping the family to host a vigil and march on Saturday, Oct. 21. The walk will begin at the intersection of Haines and College avenues and end at the Memorial Park bandshell. At the Bandshell, community members can remember Little Thunder through songs, prayers and sharing memories.
This story is co-published by the Rapid City Journal and ICT, a news partnership that covers Indigenous communities in the South Dakota area.
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