fbpx
facebook app symbol  twitter  linkedin  instagram 1
 

BELCOURT, N.D. — Renee Martin, the mother of Brandon Laducer, tells Native News Online that she feels the government has hid many details in the killing of her son by law enforcement on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota.

She says every governmental law enforcement agency, from tribal police, county police to the FBI, has given her the cold shoulder.

Other than what Martin has shared, there isn’t much information available to the public on what exactly happened on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020. Native News Online previously reported that Laducer’s mother was notified by police that there were five shots fired in the incident, but according to witnesses at least 20 shots were fired. 

Although not yet released to the public, Laducer was shot 11 times by law enforcement in the late evening on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, according to Martin, who saw his body after the autopsy in Rolla, N.D.

However, what she doesn’t know is who fired the fatal shot and if that person had jurisdiction to be on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation. 

shooting siteScene of where Brandon Laducer was killed by a police officer on August 22, 2020 on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation. (Courtesy photo)

FBI spokesperson Kevin Smith shared in an email to Native News Online on Aug. 25, 2020 that the circumstance of the incident, including how Laducer died, the reason for the law enforcement response, and the officer’s identity who was placed on administrative leave, were still being investigated by the FBI. 

A month later, on Sept. 30, E&E Daily reported an officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs shot and killed 35-year-old Laducer at a private residence on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota.

Nearly four months later, Martin asks, “They don't want the truth to come out, and at the end of the day, he has two young children who are in shock that their father is no longer here.”

“He was a really good dad,” said Martin of her son. 

In an email, Smith said, “It is quite typical for investigations like this one (and most of our FBI investigations, for that matter) to take much longer than people think they should.” 

“The investigative process and wheels of justice turn slowly!” Smith added. 

“There is a lack of humanity, a lack of compassion,” Martin said of the government in trying to find out more information about her son’s death. “I’ve never had experiences with law enforcement and since this has happened, my feelings have changed towards law enforcement.” 

“It has been inhumane the way they treat us, especially tribal women,” Martin added. 

“When we (FBI) are done, we will turn our investigation over to the U.S. Attorney’s office in North Dakota for any charging decision,” said Smith in an email.

More Stories Like This

Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. Briefs
US Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
$38 Million in Cobell Settlement Funds Are Still Available
California Gov. Newsom Announces $15 Million in Grants to Support Tribal Economic Development and Job Creation

Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions

At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.

The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.

Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.

This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.

We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.

Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.

Levi headshotThe stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.

Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.

Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher

 
 
About The Author
Author: Darren ThompsonEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Darren Thompson (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe) is a staff reporter for Native News Online who is based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Thompson has reported on political unrest, tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous issues for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Indian Country Today, Native News Online, Powwows.com and Unicorn Riot. He has contributed to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Voice of America on various Indigenous issues in international conversation. He has a bachelor’s degree in Criminology & Law Studies from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.