HOMICIDE UPDATES: The deceased is identified as 61-year-old Robert Smith of Rapid City.
33-year-old Gilbert Clifford of Rapid City was arrested the afternoon of December 27th for Second Degree Murder in relation to this homicide investigation. Other charges against Clifford are potentially pending.
Original release: At around 3:00 a.m. on December 27th, police were called to 520 East North Street for a report of an unconscious male subject discovered at that address. On arrival, police located the man in one of the rooms. Officers began administering emergency first aid until a medical unit arrived. The 61-year-old male was transported to Rapid City Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The man’s identity is being withheld pending the notification of next-of-kin.
The preliminary stages of the investigation indicate the man died of blunt force trauma. The RCPD is in the process of conducting interviews with individuals located in and around the hotel. The joint RCPD/Pennington County Sheriff’s Office investigation into the homicide is ongoing.