On a late summer evening, what began as a joyous wedding celebration in New Rockford, North Dakota, turned into a scene of tragedy and loss. Donnie Perleberg, a 41-year-old White / Caucasian male from the nearby community of Pingree, was fatally shot in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 6, 2015. The incident occurred at the Eagles Club, where Perleberg was a guest at a wedding reception.
He was reportedly seated at a table with a woman when a man approached from behind and opened fire.
The tranquility of the event was shattered around 1:00 a.m. as the shots rang out. Perleberg was struck in the back of the head and died at the scene. The woman beside him, later identified as Mary Seiler, was also shot and sustained injuries to her neck and stomach. She was transported to a hospital in Bismarck for medical treatment. The sudden violence left attendees in shock and brought the celebration to a devastating halt.
Law enforcement was quick to respond, and the alleged shooter, 51-year-old David Troske of New Rockford, was taken into custody at the Eagles Club without resistance. A small-caliber handgun was recovered at the scene. Investigations revealed that Troske was the ex-boyfriend of Mary Seiler. Witnesses reported that Troske had seen Seiler talking and dancing with Perleberg earlier in the evening. It is believed that he then left the reception, retrieved a firearm, and returned to commit the violent act.
In the aftermath, David Troske faced multiple charges, including murder for the death of Donnie Perleberg and attempted murder for the shooting of Mary Seiler. He was also charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and possession of a firearm at a bar. Troske ultimately pleaded guilty to the charges. For the murder of Donnie Perleberg, he was sentenced to 29 years in prison, to be served concurrently with a 20-year sentence for the attempted murder of Mary Seiler.
