SIOUX FALLS, SD — A confrontation at a gas station on the 7100 block of West 41st Street on Monday night resulted in the deaths of two men after an altercation involving firearms and baseball bats. The incident unfolded after a group mistakenly believed that a gathering of motorcyclists was responsible for a prior assault.

At around 9:43 p.m., police were called to the scene, where they found two men, ages 23 and 44, who had been shot during an altercation. The confrontation stemmed from a misunderstanding: the two deceased individuals and their companions, including a 42-year-old woman and a 14-year-old boy, believed the motorcyclists were responsible for an earlier assault on the 23-year-old. However, police later confirmed the motorcyclists were not involved in the prior assault.

The situation escalated when the group, who arrived in two separate vehicles, confronted the motorcyclists. Armed with baseball bats, the 23-year-old man, the 44-year-old man, and the boy approached the motorcyclists. The boy soon retreated to a vehicle, but the two men continued their confrontation. The 23-year-old man swung a bat at a 26-year-old motorcyclist, who responded by drawing a handgun and firing, striking the younger man.

Immediately after this, the 44-year-old man attempted to strike the same motorcyclist with his bat. The motorcyclist, fearing for his life, fired again, hitting the older man multiple times. The 23-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, and the 44-year-old succumbed to his injuries later at the hospital.

During the incident, the 42-year-old woman, later identified as Darinda Janet Martinez, brandished a handgun and pointed it at the motorcyclist. He fired at her, injuring her arm. She was treated at a hospital and later released, but she has since been charged with three counts of aggravated assault.

Authorities later discovered that the motorcyclists were not involved in the earlier assault on the 23-year-old man, and the altercation had stemmed from a case of mistaken identity. The motorcyclist who fired the shots cooperated with the police and has not been arrested or charged, as the case will be reviewed by the State’s Attorney’s office to determine if any charges will be filed.

The entire incident was captured on video from multiple sources, which corroborated the motorcyclist’s account of the events. The investigation is ongoing.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared to face multiple threats in a self-defense situation. The motorcyclist was forced to defend himself against three separate attackers—two armed with baseball bats and one with a gun. While we don’t know what type of firearm he used or how many shots were fired, this scenario underscores the value of carrying a firearm with sufficient capacity. When facing multiple attackers, it’s better to have more rounds than you may need rather than risk running out in a life-threatening situation. Make sure the gun you choose for concealed carry matches the potential challenges you could face.