AG & DCI conclude Lake County Deputy justified in September shooting

Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg and the state Division of Criminal Investigation on Friday released the summary into the officer-involved shooting of 34-year-old Benjamin Hernandez of Madison on September 30th in Madison.  They concluded that the actions of the Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy that day were justified. 

The state Division of Criminal Investigation, assisted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison Police Department, the Brookings Police Department, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol, conducted the investigation at the request of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred around 2:25 pm on September 30th.  Madison Police and Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a suicidal male, armed with a shotgun, in a vehicle at a convenience store in Madison. The male, later identified as Hernandez, made numerous threats to kill himself and shoot officers. Negotiations with Hernandez were unsuccessful. A Madison Police Officer fired two less-than-lethal rounds, attempting to disarm Hernandez and get him out of the vehicle. The attempt was unsuccessful and led to Hernandez pointing the loaded shotgun towards officers with his finger on the trigger. This action resulted in a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy firing a single round which struck Hernandez in the chest and ultimately disarmed him. 

The Office of the South Dakota Attorney General and the Division of Criminal Investigation thank the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Deputy for their complete cooperation in the investigation.

Lake County OIS Summary