PENNINGTON COUNTY, S.D. — Authorities are investigating a shooting that occurred Sunday morning at the Central States Fairgrounds in Pennington County, leaving one person hospitalized and the suspected gunman deceased.
According to officials, emergency responders were dispatched to the Central States Fairgrounds at approximately 8:45 a.m. on June 7, 2026, following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and remains hospitalized.
Authorities have not released the victim’s identity or provided an update on his medical condition.
Investigators identified the suspected shooter as 58-year-old John Troy Lee of Rapid City. Following the incident, law enforcement agencies began searching for Lee.
Officials later located Lee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation with assistance from Oglala Sioux Tribal authorities. According to law enforcement, the suspect was subsequently found deceased. Authorities have not yet released additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding his death, and the matter remains under investigation.
Law enforcement officials have stated that there is no ongoing threat to public safety and that the situation has been fully contained.
Multiple agencies are assisting with the investigation, including the Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Rapid City Fire Department, National Park Service, and Oglala Sioux Tribal law enforcement.
Investigators continue to gather evidence and review the events leading up to the shooting. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive, and no further information has been released regarding the relationship, if any, between the victim and the suspect.
As the investigation continues, officials are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact law enforcement. Additional updates are expected as more details become available.
The shooting has left the community searching for answers after a violent incident at one of the region’s prominent public venues. Authorities say the investigation remains active and ongoing.
Note: The original information stated there was an officer-involved shooting and the suspect was deceased. If you write that the suspect was “found dead,” that changes the known facts unless authorities specifically confirmed he was discovered deceased rather than killed during the officer-involved encounter.
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