SD Highway Patrol Trooper Shoots, Kills Gunman

CUSTER, SD - The South Dakota attorney general's office says it's investigating the fatal shooting of a man in Custer by a Highway Patrol officer.

Attorney General Marty Jackley confirmed the shooting of the 22-year-old suspect Tuesday morning. He identified the officer as Todd Albertson but did not identify the suspect.

Mayor Gary Lipp says the man died in a shootout with officers on Main Street after causing damage around town. He says the man had gone on a "rampage," running his vehicle into buildings and other vehicles and over mailboxes.

Jackley says the suspect rammed the Custer County Sheriff's Office after a short chase. No deputies or emergency personnel were injured in the standoff.

About 2,000 people live in Custer and some who live in the area say they were startled when they heard the gunshots.

"About 3:15, I woke up to three shots.  It went boom, boom, boom.  And I just thought it was kids with firecrackers and I turned around and went back to sleep. My husband went to work around 4:30 this morning and he said 'something definitely happened.'  He said 'you can't even get close to downtown,'" resident Dawn Stender said.