Tylen Burke “Ty” Valandra, a 19-year-old Sicangu Lakota man and member of the Burnt Thigh Nation, was fatally shot during the early morning hours of June 22, 2026, in Mission on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Authorities classified the shooting as a homicide and began seeking information from anyone who might have witnessed the violence, heard gunfire, or learned something about those responsible.
Valandra’s aunt described him as an innocent victim of a random act of violence, while relatives and community members called for accountability and urged anyone withholding information to come forward.
Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Valandra’s death. Police Chief Waycee His Holy Horse emphasized that even seemingly insignificant information could become critical to the investigation. The agency did not publicly disclose the precise location of the shooting, what led to it, how many people may have been involved, or whether investigators had recovered a weapon or identified a vehicle connected to the crime.
Reports initially mentioned another person possibly being wounded by gunfire around the same time, but those accounts were not officially confirmed. Authorities also made clear that Valandra’s homicide was separate from another Rosebud-area shooting investigation in which a woman was wounded and a named suspect was being sought. The suspect identified in that unrelated case was not publicly connected to Valandra’s death.
Valandra had recently completed his first year at the University of South Dakota, where he had studied kinesiology and participated in the school’s Victim Services Program. After returning home because of an ailing relative, he had reportedly taken a job with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Victim Services Program. His work involved helping coordinate supportive services for crime victims, assisting with local resources, and participating in community outreach. His death was especially painful to those who knew that he had been preparing for a future centered on service, athletics, and helping others.
Before college, Valandra distinguished himself at Todd County High School as an exceptional student and three-sport athlete. He maintained a grade-point average above 4.0 and graduated as salutatorian. On the football field, he played running back and linebacker, helped the Falcons win two All Nations state championships, and earned Offensive Most Valuable Player honors at the 2023 championship. He was selected as the All Nations Conference league MVP in consecutive seasons and finished his high school career as the program’s all-time rushing leader.
His accomplishments extended beyond football. Valandra competed in basketball, baseball, and track and field, earning conference honors and qualifying for the state track meet in four events during his senior season. He was also a member of the National Honor Society, received academic and athletic recognition, and was remembered as a leader who encouraged younger athletes, helped others obtain equipment, and remained humble despite his success.
The shooting sent grief through Mission, the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, the University of South Dakota community, and athletic programs across the region. Coaches, classmates, teammates, relatives, and mentors remembered Valandra as disciplined, compassionate, and deeply connected to his community. Funeral observances were held over several days at the Sinte Gleska University Multipurpose Building in Mission, followed by burial at Hillview Cemetery in Dallas, South Dakota.
As of the latest publicly available reports, authorities had not announced an arrest, publicly named a suspect, or disclosed any criminal charges in Valandra’s killing. No trial or conviction had occurred, and the investigation remained active. Law enforcement continued to ask the public for information that could identify everyone responsible and allow the case to move toward an arrest and prosecution.
