In the quiet moments of a late November evening in Rapid City, South Dakota, a tragedy unfolded that would cut short the life of 16-year-old Kade Zee Potter. On the night of November 29, 2024, Kade was with two other individuals in a vehicle situated near Deadwood Avenue and Omaha Street. It was inside this car that the events leading to his untimely death began to spiral.
A 17-year-old acquaintance, Isaiah Taha, was reportedly in the backseat handling a firearm.
The gun discharged, and the bullet struck Kade, who was seated in the front passenger seat. In the immediate aftermath, he was rushed to Monument Healthcare by the others in the car, arriving at the emergency room with a critical gunshot wound. Despite the efforts to save him, Kade Zee Potter succumbed to his injuries the following day, on November 30, 2024.
The investigation into the shooting led the Rapid City Police Department to uncover that the firearm involved had been reported stolen during a vehicle burglary the previous month. The investigation culminated in the arrest of Isaiah Taha. He has since been charged with several counts, including first-degree manslaughter, grand theft, obstruction, minor in possession of a pistol, and underage possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages. The Pennington County State's Attorney's office is determining whether he will be tried as an adult for his alleged role in the shooting death of Kade Potter.
