Jason "J.J." Brave, a 19-year-old man from Rapid City, South Dakota, is remembered by those who knew him as a courageous, funny, and smart young man who was deeply loved. A local community advocate who had known him since he was a little boy acknowledged that Jason had struggles but also said she had a lot of hope for what his memory and friendship would mean. His mother, Glenabah Tulley, said they had tried so hard with him.
At a vigil held after his death, she lamented that they should have been celebrating his future graduations or wedding, not planning his funeral.
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the life Jason was just beginning was cut short by gun violence. At approximately 12:50 a.m., officers from the Rapid City Police Department were called to a home in the 1500 block of Kellogg Place in the Star Village neighborhood. They arrived to find Jason Brave suffering from a gunshot wound. Police provided emergency medical aid until he could be transported to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
Witnesses at the scene told investigators that a blue Chevrolet pickup truck was seen leaving the area immediately after the shots were fired. About 50 minutes later, a Pennington County sheriff’s deputy spotted a truck matching the description speeding on Elk Vale Road. The driver refused to stop, leading to a pursuit that ended near East Highway 44 and Lonetree Road. Two occupants fled from the truck on foot but were quickly apprehended by law enforcement. Inside the vehicle, authorities recovered several firearms.
The two individuals detained were identified as 19-year-old Antwon Longvisitor and 21-year-old Harley Highwolf, both of Rapid City. Highwolf was taken into custody on an outstanding federal warrant, while Longvisitor was initially arrested for obstruction. The following day, after conducting further witness interviews and analyzing physical evidence, the Rapid City Police Department identified Antwon Longvisitor as the person responsible for shooting and killing Jason Brave. The investigation into the homicide remains active and ongoing, handled jointly by the Rapid City Police Department and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.
On the evening of his death, family, friends, and community members gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor Jason's life and call for an end to gun violence. A procession of mourners marched from the Star Village basketball court to the driveway of the home where Jason was killed. There, an impromptu memorial was created with his photos, candles, flowers, sage, and tobacco. During the vigil, attendees chanted "Justice for Jason" and shared memories. His mother spoke through her pain, questioning the senselessness of the violence. "He should be here," Glenabah Tulley said. "All of this is for what? For gun violence? For what? Someone's cool?"
Jason's stepmother, Tanya Tulley, urged anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward and speak with investigators. "You think that silence is loyalty. Silence only causes additional pain," she said. Community advocate Natalie Stites Means also spoke, pleading with local youth to put down their guns. "Jason was a good relative, and he didn't deserve what happened to him," she said. "And no family deserves this gun violence." As of October 2026, the investigation was still active. Police asked anyone with information to contact Detective James Halterman at 605-394-4134 or submit an anonymous tip by texting “RCPD” and the information to 847411.
