Kane Youngman Pleads Guilty in Rapid City Shooting
The 31-year-old defendant admitted to the first-degree manslaughter of Monte Gakin in an apartment on East Watertown Street.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Violence
Kane Youngman, 31, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in 7th Circuit Court following the shooting death of 29-year-old Monte Gakin. The incident took place at the Oxford Apartments on East Watertown Street.
Why it matters
The guilty plea resolves the criminal case regarding the fatal encounter between the two men. Youngman faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for his role in the shooting.
Kane Youngman has entered a formal guilty plea to first-degree manslaughter in 7th Circuit Court. The defendant now faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for the death of Monte Gakin.
The players
Kane Youngman
He is the 31-year-old defendant who pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter for the shooting death of Monte Gakin.
Monte Gakin
He was the 29-year-old victim who died after being shot multiple times inside an apartment on East Watertown Street.
7th Circuit Court
This is the judicial body in Rapid City where Kane Youngman entered his guilty plea.
The details
Youngman admitted to entering the Oxford Apartments and engaging in an argument with Gakin, whom he stated he did not know. He then fired a handgun multiple times at the victim while Gakin was sitting on a couch.
Timeline
The shooting occurred in August 2026.
The guilty plea was entered on October 23, 2026.
Legal Context
This case proceeds under the state guidelines established by South Dakota Codified Law 22-16-15. Such guilty pleas represent the standard resolution process for violent felonies within the regional court system.
The resolution of this case through a plea agreement concludes the immediate judicial proceedings regarding the incident at the Oxford Apartments. Residents of the area can expect no further active investigative disruptions related to this specific trial process.
The takeaway
The case highlights the severe legal consequences of handgun violence in residential areas. Authorities emphasize that the lack of prior acquaintance between parties remains a factor in such investigations.
Further reading
Learn more about local criminal investigations in the Rapid City Violence section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kotatv.
