South Dakota Deputy Katherine Frank Dies After Sioux Falls Shooting
A Minnehaha County sheriff’s deputy has died after being shot during a confrontation at a Sioux Falls residence, where a suspect was also wounded.
Deputy Katherine Frank, 26, was critically injured Friday night when shots were fired roughly 30 minutes after deputies arrived at the home, according to the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office.
Frank and the suspect received medical treatment at the scene before being transported to separate hospitals.
After three days in critical condition, Frank died Monday with family and loved ones at her side.
“Deputy Frank’s death is a significant loss to our agency and to the broader law enforcement community in and around Sioux Falls,” the sheriff’s office said. “She served the citizens of Minnehaha County with professionalism, humility, and dedication. Her absence will be felt deeply by all who have had the privilege of working alongside her.”
The suspect, 39-year-old Brandon John Oetken of Sioux Falls, faces three counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
Minnehaha County jail records reviewed by Fox News Digital also show a felony charge of disarming a law enforcement officer. Oetken was being held without bond Tuesday morning.
Authorities had not immediately said whether prosecutors would add charges in connection with Frank’s death.
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Fox News Digital contacted the sheriff’s office and the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney’s Office seeking additional information about the shooting and the case against Oetken.
At the request of the sheriff’s office, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the inquiry into the shooting.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley honored Frank following news of her death.
“We mourn the loss of Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Deputy Katherine Frank, who sacrificed everything in the line of duty to keep us safe. Let us never forget her courage and the service of all of our law enforcement officers. Deputy Frank and her family remain in our prayers,” Jackley said in a statement.
Jackley had earlier said investigators would examine the use of force during the encounter, with a public report expected within 30 days.
The incident marked the fifth shooting involving law enforcement officers in South Dakota this year, the attorney general’s office said.
Frank began working at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in September 2022 and joined the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office in June 2024.
The sheriff’s office said Frank became an organ donor in her final act of service, continuing to help others after her death.
“Deputy Frank served with dignity and heart,” the sheriff’s office said. “Her service made a meaningful difference, and her impact will remain with us always.”
