Zachary Newell was 25 when he died in the predawn hours of January 25, 2020, after gunfire erupted near a house party close to Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Police found him at about 4:08 a.m. on the 1100 block of South Washington Street with multiple gunshot wounds; he was taken to Avera St. Luke’s Hospital and did not survive. Family members said he had been kicked out of the party, tried to return to retrieve belongings, and was shot after a confrontation.

Investigators arranged an autopsy in Grand Forks and said the shooter had been identified, though the shooter’s name was not released. Reports described the shooter as a 24-year-old man from Aberdeen who fired five times after alleging Newell threatened with a gun and reached behind his back; no weapon was found on Newell. In early February the Brown County State’s Attorney’s Office ruled the shooting a justifiable homicide and announced no charges would be filed. Newell’s family held services in Aberdeen and publicly pressed for answers as they sought legal help.

If anyone knew Zachary, was at the party, or has information about what happened that night, please share what is known.