Bond set for Eischens

The investigation continues into the death of Minneota native Brandon Eischens, who died of gunshot wounds at the hand of his older brother Jeremy Eischens on July 31 at a Sioux Falls apartment.

Jeremy Eischens, 27, of Sioux Falls told police the shooting was an accident and the small-caliber handgun went off after he took it off a dresser and was showing it to his brother.

Jeremy Eischens, formerly of Minneota, had his first court appearance Aug. 1 in Sioux Falls and is being held on $500,000 bond.

He is charged with first and second degree manslaughter, three counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of marijuana, and keeping a place for the use and sale of controlled substances.

Jeremy Eischens had been drinking and had been using drugs at the time of the shooting, Sioux Falls Police Lt. Mike Colvill told media members.

“There were five people in the apartment at the time of the shooting, including the victim and the suspect,” Lt. Colvill said at a press conference a day after the shooting.

“During a search warrant, we discovered $29,000 in cash, several different types of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia, as well as some other types of drugs.”

“Because of the suspect's narcotics and alcohol use, and the fact that the victim was shot twice indicates a reckless use of a deadly weapon.”

Eischens’ next court appearance has not yet been determined. Lt. Colvill announced at the press conference that investigators had not yet determined what prompted the shooting, and that the three witnesses in the room at the time of the shooting were questioned and were cooperating with investigators.

Following the shooting, Jeremy Eischens and the other three witnesses in the apartment took Brandon Eischens to Avera Hospital in Sioux Falls where he was pronounced dead around 3:30 a.m. on July 31.

An autopsy of Brandon Eischens' body was conducted in Rapid City, SD, shortly after his death, although details of the autopsy have not yet been made public.

The funeral for Brandon Eischens was held at St. Edward Church in Minneota on Aug. 5.

Sioux Falls Police Lt. Mike Colvill told members of the media that according to witnesses in the apartment, Brandon Eischens visited his brother at Jeremy’s Eagles Nest apartment near 55th Street and South Louise Avenue to bring him the keys to his vehicle in order for him to make a “drug run” to Colorado.