On a Friday morning in Rapid City, South Dakota, a heated argument outside a Family Dollar store on Haines Avenue tragically escalated, ending the life of 43-year-old Native American man Johnathan Jacob Odom. The date was February 2, 2024, when police were called to the scene just after 10:30 a.m. following reports of a dispute between two men. During the confrontation, Odom was shot.
He was quickly transported to Monument Health for medical attention but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The individual responsible for the shooting, 30-year-old Derrek Brave Heart, was taken into custody at the scene by the Rapid City Police Department. The investigation that followed pieced together the moments leading up to the fatal encounter. According to trial testimony, the two men did not know each other prior to the argument. Video evidence presented in court showed Odom slapping Brave Heart, who then drew a gun. As Odom backed away, Brave Heart continued to threaten him before opening fire.
Derrek Brave Heart faced legal proceedings for his actions and claimed he acted in self-defense after being struck during the altercation. However, the prosecution argued that Brave Heart had opportunities to de-escalate the situation but instead chose to escalate the conflict. In March 2025, a Pennington County jury found him guilty of first-degree manslaughter. While he was acquitted of a second-degree murder charge, the jury concluded the killing was not justified. Following his conviction, Brave Heart was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the death of Johnathan Odom.
