Officials from the Sioux Falls Police Department have identified both the victims and the suspect involved in a triple homicide that occurred over the weekend.
Justin Cody Rackley, a 30-year-old resident of Sioux Falls, was arrested on Saturday night and booked into the Minnehaha County Jail on three counts of first-degree murder, as stated by Lt. Aaron Nyberg during the daily police briefing with the media on Monday morning.
Rackley pleaded not guilty to all charges during his initial court appearance in Lincoln County on Monday morning, according to records from the South Dakota Unified Judicial System.
The victims have been identified as Daniel Carl Kemnitz, aged 43, Kellie E. Reaves, aged 43, and Michael A. Thompson, aged 34, all residents of Sioux Falls, as announced by the police department.
The triple homicide took place during the early hours of Saturday morning. Law enforcement officers responded to a disturbance call around 2:45 a.m. at a residence located in the vicinity of South Drexel Drive and West 58th Street, within the city limits of Sioux Falls and near the border of Lincoln County, according to a press release issued by the department on Saturday.
Upon arrival, officers discovered three deceased adults with apparent gunshot wounds at the scene, along with two other individuals sustaining non-life-threatening injuries. The injured victims were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
The identities of these two additional victims have not been disclosed. Lt. Nyberg mentioned, "We're still in the process of determining the relationship and motive between the suspect and victims. It's premature to definitively discuss the motive as interviews with individuals present at the scene are ongoing."
It was estimated that around a dozen individuals were present at the residence the night before and during the early morning hours, gathering around a bonfire or fire pit. While some left when the disturbance occurred, others remained. Notably, children were present in the residence but were asleep and not involved in the incident, according to Nyberg.
Alcohol consumption was reported during the gathering, although its role in the incident remains unclear at this stage of the investigation. The exact number of shots fired during the altercation is yet to be determined as the scene is still being processed.
However, neighbors Angela and Joe Windstead, residing adjacent to the crime scene, reported hearing approximately 16 shots, three of which sounded muffled, captured by their internal cameras. They provided this footage to the police for investigation.
Autopsies for the victims are scheduled for later this week, which is expected to provide further insights into the case. Additionally, the department is utilizing surveillance footage from neighboring residences to aid in the investigation.
According to Joe Winstead, on Friday night, he observed his neighbors gathered around a fire at approximately 9 p.m. at the residence where the incident later occurred. "They were outside for most of the night," he recalled.
"I recall waking up a couple of times during the night, and they were still there. However, this morning, we noticed two vehicles parked there that we've never seen before." The Winsteads have been acquainted with their neighbors for about seven years.
Lt. Nyberg stated that the incident does not appear to be a crime of passion or a robbery, emphasizing the department's efforts to gather information from anyone present at the time of the incident.
Law enforcement personnel remained at the crime scene processing evidence until late Saturday evening, as confirmed by Lt. Nyberg.
Chief Jon Thum expressed gratitude towards the officers who responded to the scene, given the complexity of the situation, the number of casualties, and the presence of the suspect. "Our department exhibited professionalism during this challenging event, and I am immensely proud of our team's response," Thum remarked.
"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families affected by this tragedy. The loss of life was utterly senseless. We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation in collaboration with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office to provide answers and closure."
Lt. Nyberg recalled that the last time Sioux Falls experienced a homicide involving three or more victims was in 1973 when a family was found deceased in their home, resulting in four victims. He noted that the suspect in that case had taken their own life.
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