In the early morning hours of November 22, 2014, the community of Sisseton, South Dakota, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 28-year-old Vernon Renville Jr., a well-regarded Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota man known for his advocacy for the two-spirit community. The tragic event unfolded at a residence located at 604 4th Avenue East.
A Sisseton police officer on patrol discovered a disturbing scene with a vehicle idling in the driveway, its doors open, and a person lying on the ground nearby.
Inside and around the home, law enforcement found a scene of carnage. Vernon Renville Jr., along with Angela Adams, 25, and Candace LaBelle, 29, were found unresponsive. A fourth victim, Karissa DogEagle, was discovered seriously wounded but alive. All the deceased victims, including Renville, were determined to have died from gunshot wounds. The investigation later revealed that the perpetrator was 22-year-old Colter Arbach of Sisseton.
The investigation conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation concluded that the incident was a murder-suicide. Evidence gathered at the scene, including 18 fired casings from a. 223 caliber rifle and three expended 12-gauge shotgun shells, along with witness statements and forensic testing, pointed to Arbach as the sole person responsible for the deaths of Renville, Adams, and LaBelle, and the severe injuries to DogEagle. After carrying out the attacks, Arbach took his own life at the scene.
The South Dakota Attorney General's Office officially stated that domestic violence was the primary contributing factor in the horrific events of that November morning. No arrests were made as the suspect was deceased at the scene. The loss of multiple lives left the community of Sisseton and the families of the victims with a profound sense of grief and loss. Vernon Renville Jr. was remembered by his family and friends as a co-founder of the first two-spirit society in South Dakota and a passionate advocate for awareness and acceptance.
