A UNION COUNTY JURY CONVICTED A SIOUX FALLS MAN ON WEDNESDAY OF MULTIPLE FELONY COUNTS, INCLUDING THREE COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, STEMMING FROM AN APRIL 1, 2025 INCIDENT NEAR BERESFORD.
26-YEAR-OLD SAMIR ALBAIDHANI (SHA-MIR ALL-BA-DON-EE) WAS FOUND GUILTY OF SEVEN FELONY OFFENSES.
HE WAS ACQUITTED ON TWO COUNTS INVOLVING A SECOND SOUTH DAKOTA HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPER.
THE INCIDENT BEGAN IN SIOUX FALLS WHEN ALBAIDHANI FLED FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ATTEMPTING A TRAFFIC STOP.
HE DROVE SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 29, EXITING NEAR BERESFORD, WHERE HE LOST CONTROL AND ENTERED A DITCH.
ALBAIDHANI THEN EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FIRED MULTIPLE SHOTS AT PURSUING OFFICERS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO FLEE ON FOOT.
A SOUTH DAKOTA HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPER USED HIS PATROL VEHICLE IN AN EFFORT TO STOP HIM.
AFTER ALBAIDHANI FELL TO THE GROUND, HE AGAIN REACHED FOR A WEAPON, PROMPTING THE TROOPER TO DISCHARGE HIS FIREARM AND STRIKE ALBAIDHANI IN THE ARM.
HE WAS TREATED FOR A NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURY.
FOLLOWING THE VERDICTS, ALBAIDHANI ADMITTED TO BEING A HABITUAL OFFENDER.
AS A RESULT, THE POTENTIAL SENTENCE FOR EACH ATTEMPTED MURDER CONVICTION IS ENHANCED AND MAY INCLUDE UP TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
SENTENCING IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 1.
