Minnehaha County Deputy Katherine Frank died Monday after three days in critical condition from gunshot wounds suffered during a Sioux Falls home confrontation.
Frank, 26, passed away surrounded by family and loved ones, the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office announced. She had been critically wounded Friday night roughly 30 minutes after deputies first arrived at the residence. Both Frank and the suspect received initial treatment at the scene before hospital transport.
“Deputy Frank’s death is a significant loss to our agency and to the broader law enforcement community in and around Sioux Falls,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “She served the citizens of Minnehaha County with professionalism, humility, and dedication. Her absence will be felt deeply by all who have had the privilege of working alongside her.”
The suspect, Brandon John Oetken, 39, of Sioux Falls, already faces three counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and a felony charge of disarming a law enforcement officer, according to jail records. He remained in custody without bond Tuesday morning. Prosecutors had not yet indicated whether Frank’s death would bring upgraded charges.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued a tribute following the deputy’s death.
“We mourn the loss of Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Deputy Katherine Frank, who sacrificed everything in the line of duty to keep us safe,” Jackley said in a statement. “Let us never forget her courage and the service of all of our law enforcement officers. Deputy Frank and her family remain in our prayers.”
Jackley had previously noted that investigators would review the use of force during the encounter, with a public report expected within 30 days. The shooting marked the fifth involving law enforcement officers in South Dakota this year, according to his office.
Frank’s law enforcement career began at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in September 2022. She joined the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office in June 2024, less than a year before the fatal confrontation.
Even in death, Frank extended her service. The sheriff’s office disclosed that her final act was becoming an organ donor, continuing to help others after her passing.
“Deputy Frank served with dignity and heart,” the sheriff’s office said. “Her service made a meaningful difference, and her impact will remain with us always.”
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is handling the shooting probe at the sheriff’s office’s request. Fox News Digital’s outreach to the sheriff’s office and the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney’s Office for additional information about the shooting and charges had not received immediate response.
The confrontation unfolded Friday night at a Sioux Falls home where deputies had responded, with gunfire erupting approximately half an hour into the encounter. The circumstances that prompted the initial call and the events leading to the shooting remain under investigation.