Man killed in Custer shoot-out ID'd

CUSTER (AP) — Authorities on Wednesday identified a man who they say went on a rampage with a pickup truck and a handgun in the western South Dakota tourist town of Custer before being shot and killed by a Highway Patrol officer, while residents worked to get back to their normal lives.

Attorney General Marty Jackley said in a statement that 22-year-old Cody Engen, of Custer, was the man killed by Officer Todd Albertson in the early morning hours Tuesday. Custer County Sheriff Rick Wheeler told reporters that Engen was a Marine.

Authorities say Engen left a trail of destruction early Tuesday that included damage to mailboxes, street signs, vehicles and buildings.

"Pretty near every corner of town had something," Mayor Gary Lipp told the media.

Engen eventually rammed his pickup truck into the sheriff's office, ransacked the building, damaged patrol cars and fired numerous shots in the downtown area, authorities said.

"There were numerous shots fired at the town. He fired at the deputies," Wheeler told the media. "We tried to talk to him to put his firearm down. We tried to get him to turn himself in. We tried everything we could think of."

Albertson shot and killed Engen on Main Street about 3:30 a.m. A spokeswoman for Jackley told The Associated Press that Albertson is on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure after an officer is involved in a shooting.

Authorities have not speculated on what might have sparked the rampage. The state Department of Criminal Investigation is handling the case. Jackley said he expects to have a report within 30 days.

Many residents of the town of about 2,000 people were unnerved by the incident.

"Custer is a really safe community. We don't even lock our doors on our vehicles," Jim Understock told the media.

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