Bill Means, Madonna ThunderHawk and others participated in the #NativeLivesMatter Anti-Police Brutality Rally and March in Rapid City, South Dakota, on December 19. Photo by Robert Cook / Twitter

The police department in Rapid City, South Dakota, says one of its officer acted in self-defense when he shot and killed a 30-year-old Native man on Friday.

Officer Anthony Meirose responded to a call at the Lakota Homes Community where he encountered Allen Locke. The officer shot Locke several times because he was carrying a knife, a spokesperson for the department said.

A day earlier, Locke had participated in the #NativeLivesMatter Anti-Police Brutality Rally and March. His family met with the mayor and police chief this morning and held a prayer gathering outside of the mayor's office.

"Allen was a Sun Dancer and we want all prayer families, medicine men, spiritual leaders and sundancers to come and pray for our family and to keep Allen and his loved ones in your prayers," his family said in a statement on Last Real Indians.

The Locke family's tribal affiliation was not reported.

Get the Story:
Rapid City Police Say Officer Shot In Self Defense (KELO 12/21)
Police release name of Rapid City man killed Saturday (KOTA 12/21)
Rapid City Police Officer involved in shooting Saturday (KSFY 12/21)
SD Native Community Mourns Police Shooting Victim (AP 12/22)
"Erosion Of Confidence" 15 Years Later (South Dakota Public Broadcasting 12/22)