RAPID CITY, S.D. – Robert Yellow Bird, who was accused of shooting and killing 29-year-old Joseph Standing Bear of Norris and 37-year-old Petan Milk of Rapid City last August at a North Rapid apartment, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Yellow Bird, 17, also has been implicated in a shooting of another teenager on Aug. 17. That teen had a serious but non-life-threatening injury.
Chase Quick Bear, Erin Provancial, and Benita Cisneros were in court Thursday where Judge Craig Pfeifle set a deadline for the prosecution to determine if they will seek the death penalty.
Citing previous cases where a juvenile committed a capital crime, Yellow Bird’s defense asked Pfeifle that the death penalty not be applicable to Yellow Bird.
The next court appearance for all four is set for Feb 16.
