South Dakota sheriff’s deputy dies after line-of-duty shooting in the USA

A 26-year-old Minnehaha County sheriff’s deputy has died three days after being shot while responding to a call in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office said Deputy Katherine Frank died at a Sioux Falls hospital on Monday, October 12. She had been in critical condition since Friday, when she was struck by gunfire during an incident in western Sioux Falls.

Authorities said deputies responded to the 2900 block of South Keyrell Drive shortly before 7:30 p.m. on October 9. Shots were fired shortly after 8 p.m., injuring both Deputy Frank and a suspect.

Frank had served with the sheriff’s office for more than two years. Her death prompted an outpouring of support from law-enforcement agencies, first responders, and elected officials across South Dakota.

A criminal complaint filed Saturday charges 39-year-old Brandon Oetken with three counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law-enforcement officer and three counts of aggravated assault on a law-enforcement officer. The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is leading an independent review of the shooting.