RAPID CITY S.D. (KELO)– Devin Clifford, 27, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for shooting his cousin five times, in what the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s office calls “a jealous rage,” according to a news release.
The sentencing, handed down by Seventh Circuit Judge Heidi Linngren, follows Clifford’s guilty plea to aggravated assault, an agreement made with the state last month.
According to prosecutors, on August 22, 2023, hours after being released from jail for a probation violation, Clifford, heavily intoxicated, went to his cousin’s house, stood in his bedroom doorway and fired multiple shots, hitting the victim, who had been in bed, in the arm and abdomen.
Senior Deputy State’s Attorney Olivia Siglin, who prosecuted the case, told the Court that Clifford mistakenly believed his cousin was involved with his girlfriend. After the shooting, Clifford fled the scene and disposed of the weapon in a pond but was apprehended the same day. Five .22 shell casings were recovered from the victim’s apartment and the firearm was later recovered from the nearby pond.
Before delivering the sentence, Judge Linngren stated, “I just don’t have any faith that the public can be safe unless you serve that full sentence.”
