Nearby business owner reacts to Milbank shooting

MILBANK, S.D. (KELO) — News of the shooting in Milbank quickly spread across the town.

DeFea Transportation is located right next to Wellshire Park Place and is not far from Avantara. Pat DeFea was in his office when one of his employees told him about some commotion outside.

“A salesman with North Central Bus had stopped that sells parts, and we were visiting about some things, and one of my bus drivers came in probably 20 minutes later and said, ‘Apparently, there’s something going on over at the nursing home. Have you heard anything?'” DeFea said.

Then, DeFea started to notice a heavy police presence.

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“Probably another 10 minutes later, quite a few police vehicles came along, and I went out and talked to one of them that was by the back shed. We’re neighbors to Avantra, and he said that there was a shooting over there, but everything was secure. There was nothing to be alarmed about,” DeFea said.

But hearing of a shooting still left DeFea a little shocked.

“It’s just a real surprise to see something happening in a in a small town. It really is,” DeFea said.

We will let you know when charges are filed.