Keith Courneyer, left, is seen in the ring during one of his recent boxing matches. The Yankton Sioux man was brutally attacked at a home in Marty, South Dakota, on November 24, 2018.

Native Sun News Today: Sioux boxer on slow path to recovery after attack

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Yankton boxer down but not out

By Richie Richards
Native Sun News Today Correspondent
nativesunnews.today

PIERRE – The Yankton Sioux Tribe member who was reported in last week's issue of Native Sun News Today has opened his eyes and is showing signs of improvement.

Three individuals have been arrested for the brutal beating which left father and boxer, Keith Cournoyer, in critical condition. At the time this article was being published, another tribal member, Gavin Little, is being searched for by police for his alleged involvement in the late-November assault on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in the town of Marty, South Dakota.

A GoFundMe campaign has been started for the boxer. “It's gonna go to Keith when he gets rehabilitated and back on his feet to help him and his kids to keep their house,” said his mother, Darla Cournoyer. “It will go to pay their bills and towards what we need to do for the kids.”

As far as the boxer’s condition, his mother said they are waiting for the swelling to god down on his brain before they are doing any major surgeries or procedures.

“He did open his eyes. He's not quite focused right now. He focused on me a couple of times but he just drifted off again. He's in a lot of pain. He's not making any body movements besides the spasms. He's stable but still in critical condition. He's still on life support,” said Cournoyer. “The doctors are not making any decisions on him. They are waiting for the swelling to come down to tell all of the damage that was done.”

Keith Courneyer's boxing outfit features an American Indian Movement patch and is decorated with the words "Sioux Akicita."

His mother has been by his side in the hospital, only leaving to go home to the reservation for important matters and returning as soon as business is taken care of. In 2001, Darla Cournoyer lost her other son to a car wreck. She said Keith is her only son now and does not know how life would be without him.

At the time of the writing of this article, there has been a juvenile arrested along with his brother and another individual, according to Cournoyer.

“There's still one out there who is missing in action. His name is Gavin Little, age 22. If anyone sees him, please call the tribal police or local law enforcement. We really need to get this guy caught. There’s no telling what this guy will do to somebody else.”

The concerned mother said the four allegedly responsible for this beating had gone above and beyond to hurt her son.

“They attempted to take his life. After the beating downstairs in the basement, they took him down to Greenwood. I don’t know what they did to him down there but that's where they found him.”

The Hummer belonging to Keith Cournoyer was found abandoned with his body inside. Darla Cournoyer said the police have the Hummer and that she did not know the exact condition of the vehicle, other than that it was badly damaged. She said her son kept the Hummer is excellent condition and “shiny and new." She did not share too many details of the incident, as it is still an open investigation.

As far as the individuals accused of this heinous crime, she hopes all parties are caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. “I just hope they get what they deserve. I don't judge people. It's in the Lord's hands and the courts and what they do to them. I pray that justice is served,” she said.