The Pennington County state's attorney says she’s close to deciding on to how to proceed in the homicide case of Acey Morrison.
Morrison is a native, transgender woman who died a year ago this week.
She was shot in the home of a man she met through a dating app. Her family has now waited over a year to hear whether the state will bring charges against the man. The person on the other end of the gun is claiming self-defense.
Pennington County State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel said on Wednesday she'll make a decision by September 18 on how to proceed with the homicide case.
On the one hand, she said the investigation indicates first degree manslaughter. On the other—a strong self-defense claim, which state lawmakers recently bolstered.
Roetzel said she’s balancing those competing interests.
“The state is presented with options, which include presenting the case to an investigative grand jury—presenting both sides of the case to a grand jury to consider, which I think is a very good choice and maybe the way we go in this case," Roetzel said. "Present both, all of the strong evidence in favor of a first-degree manslaughter charge while also fairly presenting the affirmative defense of self-defense.”
The state legislature updated its self-defense laws during the 2021 and 2022 sessions.
The family of Morrison has been critical of how long it has taken for the new prosecutor to decide.
Roetzel said a states attorney’s office does not sit on a homicide case for a year lightly and says she’s going to meet with the family.
“Ultimately, the decision needs to be made. Acey Morrison’s family needs to be consulted and considered in making that decision," Roetzel said. "I’m committed to meeting them as soon as possible so that I can speak on her behalf and we can make that decision together as to the best way to proceed in the case."
