In the small community of Lodge Grass on the Crow Reservation in southeastern Montana, the night of August 4, 2017, was shattered by gunfire that left three people dead. Among them was a 30-year-old Native American man named Nehemiah Rocko Broken Rope. The incident also claimed the lives of Leslie Frank Nomee Jr., 27, and his wife, Denise Elizabeth Faith Stewart-Nomee, 25. The violent encounter unfolded inside a home and also resulted in injuries to two other individuals.
In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement began a manhunt for a person of interest. An internal "be on the lookout" alert was issued for Roderick Plentyhawk, 32, who was wanted for questioning in connection with the triple homicide. Federal investigators raided a home in Lodge Grass the day after the shootings, but no arrests were made at that time.
The tragic event prompted the Crow Tribal Chairman to implement a mandatory curfew across the reservation, a measure reflecting the profound impact of the violence on the close-knit community.
A lengthy and thorough 10-month investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The investigation revealed a complex and chaotic scene. According to the findings, Broken Rope, along with Nomee Jr. and Stewart, had forcibly entered the residence. They were reportedly armed with at least one gun and possibly other weapons. Inside the home, an occupant was also armed, and an exchange of gunfire erupted. During the shootout, an occupant of the house was shot in the abdomen, while Broken Rope, Nomee Jr., and Stewart sustained fatal injuries.
After an extensive review of the evidence, which included numerous interviews, evidence analysis, and autopsies, the U.S. Attorney's Office concluded that it could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt who fired the fatal shots. Prosecutors stated that they could not conclusively determine who shot whom or the sequence of the shots. Furthermore, they determined that even if the shooter could be identified, a legal case would likely be unsuccessful due to claims of self-defense or defense of another. Consequently, in June 2018, the Department of Justice announced that no criminal charges would be filed in the deaths of Nehemiah Broken Rope, Leslie Frank Nomee Jr., and Denise Stewart. The case was closed, leaving a community to grapple with the loss and the unresolved questions surrounding that fatal night.
