Eight forty-eight p.m. — that’s when radio traffic spiked and emergency units rushed to Truck Towne, not for a crash or medical call, but a police discharge Christopher John Pearson, 36, of Aurora, was pulled over in his Ford Explorer in the parking lot just west of I‑29. Moments later, he was pronounced dead at the scene from gunshot wounds. The Beresford officer who fired did not require medical treatment. No other individuals were hurt. The circumstances leading to the shooting are unclear, including the initial reason for the stop and whether Pearson was armed. DCI agents have secured the area, begun forensic processing, and are gathering digital recordings from nearby sources.

Eight forty-eight p.m. — that’s when radio traffic spiked and emergency units rushed to Truck Towne, not for a crash or medical call, but for a police-involved shooting that unfolded in a matter of moments. According to preliminary reports, **36-year-old Christopher John Pearson of Aurora** had been pulled over in his Ford Explorer in the parking lot just west of I-29. 

What began as a routine traffic stop quickly escalated, though exactly how and why remains unclear. Within minutes, Pearson was pronounced dead at the scene from gunshot wounds, leaving investigators to piece together a chain of events that ended in fatal force.

The Beresford police officer who fired the shots did not require medical treatment, and authorities confirmed that no other individuals were injured during the encounter. Still, the lack of clarity surrounding the incident has raised immediate questions: What prompted the stop? Did Pearson make a threatening move? 

Was he armed? Officials have not yet released answers, urging patience as the investigation moves forward.The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has taken over the case, as is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings. Agents secured the parking lot within minutes of their arrival, blocking off a wide perimeter around Pearson’s vehicle. Overnight, forensic specialists began documenting the scene—

photographing the Explorer, marking shell casings, and collecting physical evidence that may help determine the sequence of events and the officer’s decision to open fire.Investigators are also gathering digital evidence, including dash-cam and body-cam recordings, if available, along with surveillance footage from nearby businesses and data from the officer’s radio communications. 

Witness interviews are underway, though authorities have not indicated whether any bystanders directly observed the shooting.Pearson’s death now moves into the formal review process, with findings expected to be released once DCI completes its comprehensive investigation and the state attorney general’s office evaluates whether the shooting was justified under South Dakota law.