Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Clayton Fire Thunder, a resident of Porcupine, South Dakota, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for involuntary manslaughter and two counts of making false statements. The sentencing was carried out by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on April 25, 2025.
Fire Thunder, aged 40, will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term and is required to pay $300 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. His conviction came after a federal jury trial held in Rapid City, South Dakota, in January 2025.
The case dates back to September 15, 2022, when a male drove his partially clothed girlfriend to the Indian Health Services hospital on the Pine Ridge Reservation without providing their identities. He claimed she had been accidentally shot during intimate relations due to a firearm discharge.
Law enforcement later identified the male at his residence while he was cleaning up the crime scene and sending messages claiming the shooting was accidental. Despite searching the residence, authorities could not locate the handgun allegedly used in the incident. The male faced charges including second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Surveillance footage led investigators to identify Marino Waters as driving Fire Thunder to the male's residence twice on that morning with intentions of selling a firearm for cash or methamphetamine. When no one answered at the door, Fire Thunder discharged his weapon into the house inadvertently killing a 27-year-old female inside.
During interviews with FBI agents in March and October of 2023, Fire Thunder falsely denied possessing a firearm during the incident and provided misleading information about his presence at the scene.
Seventeen witnesses and over 200 exhibits were presented during Fire Thunder's trial proving he fired the fatal shot on September 15, 2022. Consequently, he was found guilty by a jury.
This prosecution falls under federal jurisdiction due to the Major Crimes Act which requires certain violent crimes occurring in Indian country be tried federally rather than at state level.
The investigation was conducted by Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety along with FBI assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen handled prosecution duties.
Following sentencing proceedings, Fire Thunder was placed into custody by U.S Marshals Service immediately thereafter.
