Rapid City Shooting Was Gang Related

[Christina Marie]

01/17/2006
Rapid City Shooting Was Gang Related



You tuck your children into bed for the night, assuming they'll be safe. Investigators say that's what a Rapid City mother did last week, never suspecting what would happened next. Police say a gang fight on the street outside her home sent bullets flying into her house, hitting her young daughters.

Eighteen-year-old Gary Wright, 19-year-old Antonio Dreamer, 16-year-old Rani Bear Heels, 18-year old Patrick Marshall and 20-year-old Ezra Chee were all charged with conspiracy to commit first degree murder as well as a variety of lesser charges and were in court Tuesday.

Authorities say early Thursday morning, five people headed over to this neighborhood and had plans to murder a person in another gang. But investigators say the group ended up confronting the rival gang outside this home where two little girls were hurt.

Deputy State's Attorney Lara Roetzel said, "The victims and their mother live in an apartment that is near the target victim's location. They were not gang involved or part of any of the transpiring of that evening."

Investigators say 18-year-old Gary Wright lead his gang by firing four shots out of a 270 caliber rifle police found fragments from one of those bullets injured the girls.

State’s Attorney Glenn Brenner said, "So they all worked together in an attempt to pull off this murder."

Police say the five individuals were the primary players, but they expect to make more arrests.

Rapid City Police Capt. Ed Hofkamp said, "There's two other individuals and there could be more as our investigation continues. We're constantly receiving more information."

While officials are glad no one was killed, they say the incident still ended violently with two little sisters being caught in the middle of a gang rivalry. A preliminary hearing date has yet to be set. All five suspects are in custody.


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