On June 26, 1975, a shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Oglala left three men dead, including 23-year-old Joe Stuntz, a Coeur d’Alene Indian and activist with the American Indian Movement. Stuntz was at the Jumping Bull family’s property when two FBI agents, Jack Coler and Ronald Williams, entered the land reportedly pursuing a young man named Jimmy Eagle. A firefight erupted after the agents’ arrival.

More than 150 FBI agents, BIA police, and local law enforcement surrounded the property where AIM members and several women and children were present. The prolonged exchange of gunfire fatally wounded both FBI agents and also killed Stuntz. An FBI report says Stuntz was seen firing at the agents and his body was found near a house on the property; some accounts say a BIA rifleman shot him. When located, Stuntz was wearing an FBI jacket that belonged to one of the dead agents.

The post-shootout investigation focused on the deaths of the two FBI agents and led to the conviction of AIM member Leonard Peltier for their murders. The death of Joe Stuntz was never officially investigated and no one was charged in connection with his killing. Does anyone have information about Stuntz’s death or remember the events at Jumping Bull property that day?