(Wagner, SD) — A South Dakota family is demanding justice after a man was killed in a raid on the Yankton Sioux Reservation at the end of November. Federal officers used pepper spray and shot and killed 23-year-old Zander Zephier November 27th just north of Wagner. Zephier did have a lengthy criminal history and was considered a fugitive from Charles Mix County Jail in Lake Andes. He was granted furlough in July to attend a family funeral and never returned. The U.S. Marshals Service arrived to arrest Zephier on outstanding warrants moments after he livestreamed himself brushing his teeth in the basement of a tribal housing unit on the Yankton Sioux Reservation. Despite his criminal past, family members are now calling for an independent investigation into the man’s death. They say they don’t trust law enforcement to conduct an impartial inquiry, especially when it comes to operations on tribal land. This while a retired chief inspector with the U.S. Marshals Service has raised questions about the use of force and entering the house without more attempts at negotiation. Zephier’s brother, Zane, spoke at a vigil held earlier this month, saying Zander deserved better, “our people deserve better,” and that he’s not leaving any stone unturned to find the truth.
