Late Friday night in Beresford, a routine traffic stop turned tragic when a police officer shot and killed 36-year-old Christopher John Pearson of Aurora, South Dakota. The incident happened at around 8:48 p.m. in the parking lot of the Truck Towne Travel Plaza along Highway 46, just west of I‑29, as confirmed by the South Dakota Attorney General’s office.
According to officials, the Beresford officer pulled over a Ford Explorer driven by Pearson. During the stop, the situation escalated, and the officer opened fire, fatally wounding the driver. Pearson was pronounced dead at the scene, and an autopsy is planned. The officer involved in the shooting was not injured.
South Dakota’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has taken over the case. According to Attorney General Marty Jackley, they are conducting a “thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation,” which will include processing the crime scene, forensic analysis, interviews, and a review of all available video. Jackley also pledged to release a final report within 30 days.
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to support the investigation, including the South Dakota Highway Patrol, Game, Fish & Parks, and sheriff’s offices from Lincoln and Union Counties, along with the Lincoln County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Beresford Police Department.
This shooting marks the seventh officer-involved shooting in South Dakota so far this year, according to the Attorney General’s office. Given the limited details released so far — including no word yet on what prompted the traffic stop or whether a weapon was involved — many are waiting for DCI’s full report to shed light on how things spiraled so quickly.
In the tightly knit community of Beresford, where the local police department comprises just a handful of full-time officers, the news of Pearson’s death has landed heavily. The city, still processing the shock, now looks to state officials to provide clarity.
As the investigation unfolds, residents and officials alike are reminding themselves that no further danger to the public has been reported, according to Jackley. But for Pearson’s family, the unanswered questions matter most — and they’re hoping the DCI’s report finally brings them some closure.