RAPID CITY, S.D. (KELO) — Two people, both over 18 years old, have been arrested for their involvement in the Friday night Skyline gunshots in Rapid City.
A third person, a young boy, has been detained and will be entered into the appropriate channels of the juvenile justice system.
The two adults arrested are 18-year-old Roman Venegas and 23-year-old David Venegas, both of Rapid City.
“We are aware of the impact this event had on our community and want to assure you that RCPD took this event seriously and we made it our top priority,” Chief of Police Don Hedrick said.
Thanks to videos from both Jackson Boulevard and Skyline Drive, authorities were able to pinpoint the time of the shootings, as well as a red SUV with all three individuals accounted for.
“Taking these guns out of the hands of those committing criminal acts is another step forward to making Rapid City a safer community and ensuring we send a clear message that these types of activities are not tolerated in our community,” Hedrick said.
Shortly after the New Year rang in, more gunshots were called in, this time on the Northside of town.
“There’s one, they were at this stop light, popped off rounds there. Came around this way and popped off rounds back here. It hit the car back there but what am I supposed to do you know,” Rapid City resident Gene War Bonnett Jr. said.
These two incidents took place at 1:50 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. both with vehicles damaged by gunshots, thankfully no one was hurt in either case.
“I don’t know if it’s the culture or if it’s just how today is. But like I’m seeing more and more teenagers, more and more young kids have guns. Like the way I grew up and I grew up here on the Northside of Rapid City, teenagers never had guns. But now they do and it’s kind of, it’s getting really bad,” Rapid City resident Jesse Ross said.
As the RCPD starts to increase their patrols of these affected areas, they aim to provide more security to the community.
All reported shootings are still under investigation, stay with KELOLAND News for updates as they become available.
