The Spirit Lake Tribe is grieving the loss of three community members following a fatal shooting that occurred on Tuesday morning in St. Michael, North Dakota. The victims have been identified as Kristy Lee, her daughter Tiana Lenoir, and infant Lokia, all members of the Spirit Lake Tribe.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement notified the Spirit Lake Tribe of the tragic incident at approximately 9:30 a.m. In response to the active threat, authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for all residents within the Spirit Lake Reservation boundaries, including the districts of St. Michael, Fort Totten, Crow Hill, and Wood Lake.
Law enforcement conducted an extensive search for the suspect, who was considered armed and dangerous. At approximately 1:20 p.m., the suspect was successfully apprehended, and the shelter-in-place order was lifted. The Spirit Lake Tribal Council has since issued administrative leave for all tribal employees to allow the community time to grieve.
In a statement, the Spirit Lake Tribal Council expressed their condolences and urged the community to come together during this difficult time:
“As we navigate this difficult time, we ask for the community’s empathy and understanding. Our hearts go out to the victims’ families, and we encourage everyone to keep them in your thoughts and prayers as we mourn this devastating loss together. We also ask that the privacy of the victims’ families be respected as investigations continue. We extend our deepest gratitude to the law enforcement agencies for their swift response and ongoing efforts in handling this situation.”
The Spirit Lake Tribe is urging all tribal citizens to prioritize their mental health and well-being during this challenging period. Grief counseling and support services are available through Spirit Lake Behavioral Health for those in need.
Our thoughts are with the Spirit Lake Tribe and the families of Kristy Lee, Tiana Lenoir, and Lokia during this heartbreaking time. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses. This tragic event underscores the importance of community support and mental health resources in times of crisis.
