OKREEK, SD – Leon Good Buffalo, 24, of Okreek, South Dakota, will spend the next eleven years in federal prison for the October 2021 shooting death of an adult male. Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange handed down the sentence Monday, January 23, 2023, following Good Buffalo’s guilty plea in October of 2022.
The incident unfolded at a residence in Okreek after Good Buffalo and the victim engaged in an argument while consuming alcohol. According to court documents, Good Buffalo retrieved a shotgun from a bedroom and, accompanied by the victim, went outside. There, he fired a single shot into the victim’s chest, a wound that proved fatal.
Federal prosecutors detailed that a grand jury indicted Good Buffalo in November 2021. The case was a collaborative effort between the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson led the prosecution.
Beyond the prison term, Good Buffalo faces three years of supervised release following his incarceration and is ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. He was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service at the conclusion of the sentencing hearing.
Federal officials framed the prosecution as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence across the country. The program emphasizes community trust, preventative measures, and focused enforcement priorities.
This case highlights the deadly consequences of escalating arguments and the ready availability of firearms. While the specifics of the dispute remain largely undisclosed, the outcome serves as a grim reminder of the irreversible impact of violence within South Dakota communities. The Grimy Times will continue to follow federal cases impacting the region.
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