In the small community of Sisseton, South Dakota, a tragic event unfolded on November 22, 2014, forever altering the lives of several families. Candace LaBelle, a 29-year-old woman, was among the victims of a senseless act of violence that stemmed from a domestic dispute. The incident, which left a total of four people dead and one critically injured, sent shockwaves through the quiet town.
The events of that fatal day began to come to light when a Sisseton police officer on patrol
noticed a vehicle with its doors open idling in a driveway. Upon closer inspection, the officer discovered a horrifying scene with four unresponsive individuals and one seriously wounded woman. The investigation that followed would reveal a grim story of domestic violence that had escalated to a devastating conclusion.
Investigators determined that 22-year-old Colter Arbach was the perpetrator of the horrific act. Prior to the shootings, Arbach had been in a relationship with Karissa DogEagle, the lone survivor of the attack. An argument between the couple on the day of the incident led to Arbach physically assaulting DogEagle. When she or someone else in the home threatened to call the police, Arbach retrieved a. 223 caliber rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun and began shooting.
In the ensuing rampage, Arbach fatally shot Candace LaBelle, Vernon Renville Jr., and Angela Adams. He also inflicted multiple gunshot wounds on Karissa DogEagle, who miraculously survived. After carrying out the attack, Colter Arbach turned a gun on himself, taking his own life at the scene. The South Dakota Attorney General's office later confirmed that domestic violence was the primary factor that led to the tragic murder-suicide. The investigation concluded that Arbach was solely responsible for the deaths and injuries that occurred that day, leaving a community to grapple with the profound loss and the devastating impact of domestic violence.
