Young South Dakota deputy dies three days after being shot during a confrontation at a home
Minnehaha County Deputy Katherine Frank, 26, died on Monday, three days after being critically wounded in a shooting at a Sioux Falls home. Her death is a loss for the sheriff’s office and the wider community, and investigators are examining the encounter.
Frank and a 39-year-old suspect, Brandon John Oetken, were taken to hospital after the shooting; Oetken remains in custody without bond and faces multiple charges related to attacks on law enforcement. The shooting was the fifth involving South Dakota officers this year, and a public report on the use of force is expected within 30 days. Frank had joined the sheriff’s office in June 2024 and became an organ donor.
- Deputy Katherine Frank died three days after being shot.
- Suspect Brandon Oetken remains in custody without bond.
- Investigators expect a public use-of-force report within 30 days.
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Minnehaha County is in eastern South Dakota, and Sioux Falls is its largest city. The county sheriff’s office provides policing in the area and employs deputies such as Katherine Frank.
When an officer is shot, investigators examine the events and evidence to establish what happened; a public use-of-force report can provide further information. Such incidents also raise questions about officer safety and the risks involved in policing, while organ donation can allow a donor’s organs to help other people after death.