Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock won't investigate the death of A.J. Long Soldier at the Hill County jail.

Long Soldier, 18, died last November after complaining of feeling sick. According to a coroner who testified, the star athlete was suffering from severe effects of alcohol withdrawal.

A jury cleared detention officers of wrongdoing. But the Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council wanted to know whether race was a factor in the incident.

"If additional evidence comes to light showing criminal conduct resulting in Mr. Long Soldier's death, the possibility of criminal prosecution remains," Bullock wrote in response, The Great Falls Tribune reported.

Long Soldier was a standout basketball player who led his team on the Fort Belknap Reservation to a state championship. He had enrolled at Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas last fall.

Long Soldier's mother, Dayna Bear, is a community health representative for the Fort Belknap Tribe. His father, Allen Long Soldier Sr., is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.

Get the Story:
Attorney general declines to investigate death of Indian basketball star (The Great Falls Tribune 6/8)

Related Stories:
Tribes seek investigation over athlete's death at county jail (5/19)
Jury clears detention officers in Indian athlete's death (3/18)
Inquest set for Indian man who died in Montana jail (2/11)
Inquest planned for Indian man's death in Montana jail (1/12)
Indian man requested help early on during jail stay (11/25)
Investigation into death of Native basketball player (11/24)