South Dakota Man Charged With Bismarck Murder

Steve Charging Eagle arrested after allegedly stabbing Brooks Reynolds to death

Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:48pm

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An extreme close-up of a bloody knife, the harsh lighting and dark background creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic that conceptually represents the violent crime at the center of this news story.A violent crime scene exposes the need for better conflict resolution resources in Bismarck.Bismarck Today

A 35-year-old man named Brooks Reynolds was found dead on a couch in Bismarck, North Dakota with over a dozen stab wounds. Police arrested Steve Charging Eagle, a South Dakota resident, shortly after the incident. Charging Eagle claimed he acted in self-defense, and multiple bloody knives were found at the scene.

Why it matters

Violent crimes like this murder in Bismarck's residential neighborhoods raise concerns about public safety and the need for better conflict resolution resources in the community. The case also highlights the complex legal issues around self-defense claims in homicide cases.

The details

According to police, officers responded to a call on Elk Ridge Drive in Bismarck on Thursday and found Brooks Reynolds dead on a couch with over a dozen stab wounds. Steve Charging Eagle, a resident of Dupree, South Dakota, was arrested shortly after with injuries to his hands and forearms. Charging Eagle told officers he had stabbed someone in self-defense, and when police returned to the home, they found multiple bloody knives at the scene.

  • On Thursday, officers responded to a call on Elk Ridge Drive in Bismarck.
  • Charging Eagle was arrested shortly after the incident.
  • Charging Eagle is set to appear in court on May 11th.

The players

Brooks Reynolds

A 35-year-old man who was found dead on a couch in Bismarck with over a dozen stab wounds.

Steve Charging Eagle

A resident of Dupree, South Dakota who was arrested shortly after the incident with injuries to his hands and forearms. Charging Eagle claimed he acted in self-defense.

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What they’re saying

“I had stabbed someone in self-defense.”

— Steve Charging Eagle

What’s next

Charging Eagle is set to appear in court on May 11th, where a judge will determine if he will be allowed out on bail.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the need for better conflict resolution resources and support services in Bismarck to prevent violent crimes. It also raises complex legal questions around self-defense claims in homicide cases that will likely be a focus of the upcoming court proceedings.