ICT Staff
One person remained in custody Wednesday following a shooting Tuesday in North Dakota’s Spirit Lake Nation that left two people dead and another in critical condition.
All three victims and the suspected shooter are Spirit Lake citizens, according to a Spirit Lake spokesperson.
“Our hearts go out to the victims’ families and we encourage everyone to keep them in your thoughts and prayers as we grieve this tragic incident together,” according to a statement released by the tribe.
The tribe initially reported that all three victims had died in the shooting, but issued a new statement Wednesday clarifying that one victim remained in critical condition. The names of the victims and the suspected shooter have not been released.
Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement apprehended the suspect at approximately 1:20 p.m. CST Tuesday after the shooting in the reservation community of St. Michael’s.
Tribal authorities had issued a shelter-in-place order for the entire nation – including schools and tribal offices – at approximately 9:30 a.m. CST on Tuesday. The order was lifted after the arrest was made.
Tribal leadership said in a statement that, “out of respect for the families involved, we are not releasing the names of the victims or the suspect at this time.”
The tribe’s statement Wednesday also praised more than a dozen law enforcement agencies that responded to the shooting, and called for the community to respect the families.
“As we navigate this heartbreaking situation, we ask for the community’s compassion and respect for everyone impacted by this tragedy,” the tribe said in Wednesday’s statement.
Assisting the BIA in making the arrest were the Benson County Sheriff’s Office as well as the North Dakota highway patrol. A dozen other agencies also participated, including a drone team from Lake Region.
The statement from the tribe included two support hotline phone numbers for Spirit Lake citizens: Spirit Lake Behavioral Health at 701-766-1613, and Spirit Lake Suicide Prevention at 701-381-0047.
“We would like to remind our tribal residents that grief counseling services are available for those in need,” the statement said. “We encourage all tribal citizens to prioritize their mental health and well-being during this difficult time.”
Updated: This story has been updated with new information from Spirit Lake Nation. A statement issued Tuesday by the tribe indicated that three people were killed in the shooting. The tribe clarified Wednesday that one victim remained in critical condition.
Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICT’s free newsletter.