Following a series of emails requesting information about an incident on Wednesday, Nov. 22 in Crofton, the Knox County Attorney's office released the following:
"On the afternoon of 11/22/23, Knox County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the Crofton City Park. Upon arrival, Deputies found an unresponsive 18-year-old male with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The male was transported by Crofton EMT to Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, S.D. The male was transferred to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. The male succumbed to his injuries on 11/23/23."
The Knox County Sheriff's office originally indicated the call was a "welfare check," according to Sheriff Don Henery, and his office declined to comment further as he said he felt it was a "violation of HIPAA" (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). With a follow-up request to the Knox County Attorney's office, on the same day (Nov. 28), the above press release was sent on Nov. 30.
The name of the person involved will not be released by the Knox County Attorney's office, as they have indicated as the male was under 18, he remains a minor.
Though the Journal requested it, no official police report concerning circumstances has been released.