Mission Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Second Degree Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Second Degree Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on November 9, 2026.

Lucas Guerue, age 28, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for Second Degree Murder. Guerue was sentenced to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The sentences will be served concurrently.

Guerue was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025 and pleaded guilty on August 13, 2026.

The convictions stem from an incident that occurred within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On March 20, 2025, sometime after 2:00 a.m., Guerue was drinking whiskey from a bottle while driving around in a Buick with a friend, when he saw the victims in a Chevrolet Traverse. He quickly turned around and began to follow them. Earlier that day, Guerue threatened to shoot the driver of the Traverse. Guerue pursued the vehicle at high speeds on U.S. Highway 18 between Rosebud and Mission. He then accelerated and intentionally rammed the back end of the Traverse at 118 miles per hour with the specific purpose of hurting its occupants. His purpose was achieved. The collision caused the Traverse to careen into the ditch and begin to roll. The driver was thrown from the vehicle and killed. The passenger was thrown from the vehicle and suffered severe injuries. Guerue fled the scene but was later apprehended.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Zachrison prosecuted the case.

Guerue was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.