Dallas Chase Quick Bear, a 30-year-old Native American man, was a beloved and cherished member of his Rapid City, South Dakota community. Remembered for his smile, good humor, and genuine, loving bear hugs, he was considered family by many. Dallas played football in middle school, loved sports, and was known for being outgoing and the life of his friends.
His death left a huge loss and an emptiness in the community that loved him.
In the early morning hours of February 20, 2022, police were called to Teddy's Sports Grill, a downtown establishment on Main Street. Inside, they found Dallas Quick Bear suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to Monument Health hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
The investigation began immediately. Using a tip and surveillance footage, law enforcement located a handgun believed to be the murder weapon discarded a few blocks from the bar. The investigation led police to Timothy Huante, who was arrested three days after the shooting. During interviews with detectives, Huante confessed to the crime. Prosecutors stated that Huante approached Quick Bear in the bar, shook his hand, and then shot him.
Huante was charged with first-degree murder, and a judge set his bond at $1 million. Despite his initial confession, Huante pleaded not guilty. His defense attorneys argued that the confession was false and had been coerced by police interrogators, claiming Huante was "black-out drunk" on the night of the shooting and had no memory of what happened. The case proceeded through more than four years of extensive litigation, which included an appeal to the South Dakota Supreme Court regarding the admissibility of a defense expert on false confessions.
On August 31, 2026, the morning his murder trial was scheduled to begin, Timothy Huante accepted a plea deal. He entered an Alford plea to accessory to murder, allowing him to maintain his innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors had enough evidence to potentially secure a conviction. In accordance with the plea agreement, the first-degree murder charge was dismissed. A judge sentenced Huante to five years in prison, the maximum sentence for the offense.
The Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office stated that the plea deal was offered because of challenges with the case, including discrepancies in eyewitness accounts and court rulings that changed the evidence prosecutors would have been able to present to a jury. Dallas Quick Bear’s family, who filled the courtroom, expressed anger at the outcome. His mother told Huante, "This wasn't justice," and called him a coward. The case was closed with Huante’s sentencing in August 2026.
