On the evening of September 2, 2024, in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, 17-year-old Gary Bear Runner, a male described by loved ones as a sharing, caring, and outgoing young man, lost his life in a tragic incident involving a firearm. He was known for his creative, athletic, and comical nature, a young man with a heart for what he loved and believed in.
The events of that night unfolded at an abandoned trailer where Bear Runner was gathered with three friends, including 19-year-old Daeshawn
Poor Bear. The group was consuming alcohol and THC when Bear Runner tossed a firearm to Poor Bear. Unaware that the gun was loaded, Poor Bear pointed it at his friend and pulled the trigger. A single bullet struck Bear Runner, resulting in his immediate death at the scene.
Following the shooting, a distraught Poor Bear ran to his mother's nearby home and confessed to what had happened. His mother promptly called 911, and during the call, Poor Bear was overheard expressing his belief that he would be going to jail for life. The Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety responded to the scene and found Bear Runner deceased.
In the subsequent legal proceedings, Daeshawn Poor Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2024. He later pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in January 2025. In June 2025, Poor Bear was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The case was prosecuted in federal court under the Major Crimes Act due to the incident occurring in Indian Country.
