FBI agents spent Thursday at the Santee Sioux Reservation investigating the death of 25-year-old Santee resident David Hoffman.
Hoffman allegedly shot himself Wednesday afternoon on the reservation, ending a nearly 30-hour manhunt that began when he assaulted and disarmed a Niobrara Police Officer on Tuesday. The FBI will take their investigation’s findings back to Omaha for analysis before an official conclusion will be released. FBI investigators have confirmed that Hoffman was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, South Dakota. FBI spokeswoman Sandy Breault said no officers were injured. Authorities said Hoffman, who was sought after assaulting and disarming a police officer, shot himself as officers tried to arrest him on the Santee Sioux Indian Reservation. Authorities said Hoffman refused to surrender when found on the reservation Wednesday. According to officials, the shooting occurred at the Santee Reservation after federal and tribal officials were attempting to take him into custody. "The subject, who was armed at the time, refused to surrender peacefully and allegedly shot himself. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and no law enforcement personnel were injured during the confrontation," according to the FBI. According to the Knox County Sheriff's Department, at 1 p.m. Tuesday, they received a phone call that a Niobrara officer was assaulted in the low income housing units while attempting to arrest David Hoffman, 25 of Santee, on a Knox County arrest warrant. Hoffman was able to disarm the Niobrara Officer and pointed the handgun at him before keeping the gun and running out of the village on foot and into the river bottom along the Niobrara and Missouri Rivers. No shots were fired. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area and set up a perimeter. Officers from the Nebraska State Patrol, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Santee Sioux Nation Tribal Police, also responded. Niobrara Fire and Rescue were put on standby. The Nebraska State Patrol Air Wing, Canine, and SWAT team were used to search and clear the area. The Niobrara schools as well as several businesses were put in lock down during the search and some vehicles were searched on the edge of Niobrara. The Sheriff’s Office evacuated employees from the Niobrara State Park. Three employee residences, fifteen cabins, and numerous outbuildings were searched. The search continued until approximately 10 p.m. at which time it was concluded that Hoffman had left the area. According to Knox County Court records, Hoffman was wanted for felony burglary and theft by receiving stolen property after Niobrara police said he burglarized Terry's Hair Salon in Niobrara on December 19 and made off with $750 in cash and merchandise. According to investigative reports from several law enforcement agencies, police believe that Hoffman sold some black gold jewelry to a local woman whose mother knew that the merchandise had been stolen from the the Hair Salon. News Channel Nebraska contributed to this story. |