Oglala man found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after killing woman near Pine Ridge

PINE RIDGE, S.D. - A 40-year-old Oglala, South Dakota man has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of making false statements following a federal trial. The conviction stems from a shooting on Sept. 15, 2022, when Clayton Fire Thunder, who was intoxicated at the time, traveled to a residence east of Pine Ridge intending to meet a methamphetamine dealer. Fire Thunder had acquired a firearm and planned to exchange it for drugs.

As he approached the front door, he heard noises coming from inside. At some point outside the residence, Fire Thunder mishandled the firearm, causing it to discharge. A bullet traveled through the siding and into a bedroom where the methamphetamine dealer and a woman were present. The woman was struck on her left side, just below her arm, and later died from her injuries.

Fire Thunder fled the scene, and during two separate interviews with FBI agents in Oct. 2023 and May 2024, he provided false statements regarding the firearm and his involvement in the incident.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Sentencing is scheduled for April 25, 2025.