Attorney General Jackley, DCI Rule July 7 Sioux Falls Police Officer Involved Shooting Justified

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, Aug. 7, 2026

Contact: Tony Mangan, Communications Director, 605-773-6878   

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) review has determined that two Sioux Falls Police Department officers were justified in their use of force during an Officer Involved Shooting that occurred July 7 in Sioux Falls, resulting in the death of the suspect and injuring one police officer.

“The suspect refused to obey officers’ commands and fired his weapon at law enforcement,” said Attorney General Jackley. “He presented a clear and present danger. The officers were justified in their actions.”

The July 7 incident started when Sioux Falls Police Officers responded to a call at the residence in the 3200 block of E. 20th Street. The reporting party stated they believed that the person at that address, identified as James R. Meyer, 55, of Sioux Falls, had shot himself in his garage.

Officers entered the garage and found Meyer lying in his vehicle, holding a gun to his head. He was not injured. The officers left the garage and set up a perimeter in the driveway. Meyer refused officer commands to put the gun down and exit the vehicle.

Meyer later began firing a pistol at the officers. At one point, he fired 12 shots in rapid succession. Several shots struck a Sioux Falls Police vehicle, and one shot struck a police officer.

A second Sioux Falls Police Officer fired one shot that struck and killed Meyer.

The injured officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

DCI processed the crime scene, conducted a forensic examination of evidence, interviewed those involved, and reviewed all available video from in-car cameras and body worn cameras. Meyer’s 9MM Glock pistol was recovered at the scene.

Meyer’s blood and urine samples showed that he had a Blood Alcohol Content of .124 percent and that he also tested positive for Cannabinoids (Delta-9 THC). Blood and urine samples of the two officers tested negative for alcohol or illegal drugs.

No criminal history was found on Meyer.

Law enforcement agencies that assisted DCI were the South Dakota Forensic Lab and Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office. The Sioux Falls Police Department cooperated with the investigation.

This is the third Officer Involved Shooting in South Dakota this year.  

The link to the Officer Involved Shooting report can be found here:

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