After eight months of exhaustive investigative work on behalf of RCPD detectives and Pennington County Sheriff’s Office investigators, two individuals of been indicted on charges stemming from the September 2015 murder of 56-year-old Edward Lowry.
They are identified as:
- 19-year-old Ranon Bissonette of Rapid City
- 19-year-old Hunter Highpipe of Rapid City
On September 17th, 2015, police responded to a parking lot near the intersection of East Blvd. North and E. Philadelphia Street. On arrival, police discovered Lowry lying unresponsive on the pavement. It was apparent Lowry had been the victim of a violent assault.
“This was a tough case, and our detectives and investigators should be commended for their efforts to determine the perpetrators of this violent act,” said Captain James Johns, commander of the RCPD’s Criminal Investigations Division. “Many hours of surveillance footage were compiled in this case. By using that footage captured in the time leading up to the murder, we are able to illustrate Bissonette and Highpipe’s involvement in this homicide.”
Both men are charged with First Degree Murder (with an alternative charge of Second Degree Murder), Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder, First Degree Robbery, and Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Robbery. They are both in custody at the Pennington County Jail and have been for some time on unrelated charges.
A co-conspirator is named in the indictment. He is identified as 19-year-old Gabe Selwyn Heikkinen. Heikkinen took his own life on May 17th.
This case is now in the hands of the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the RCPD will refer all further requests for information about the case to their office.