Trial begins in Brandon for Jeremy Blacksmith accused of shooting Blaze Tacan in Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in 2023
Trial Begins for Man Charged with Second-Degree Murder
The trial of Jeremy John Blacksmith, 43, charged with second-degree murder, began on Monday. The case is related to the homicide of Blaze Tacan on August 5, 2023. Two witnesses testified they saw Blacksmith shoot Tacan.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Jeremy John Blacksmith |
| Age | 43 |
| Charges | Second-degree murder, possession of a weapon, failure to comply with a release order |
| Victim | Blaze Tacan |
| Date of Incident | August 5, 2023 |
| Location | Sioux Valley Dakota Nation |
| Trial Duration | About 10 days |
Blacksmith has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is also charged with possession of a weapon contrary to an order and failure to comply with a release order. The incident occurred after Virden RCMP received reports of a shooting in Sioux Valley.
Tacan was taken to the hospital, where he later died. A 17-year-old youth was also arrested but cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
On the first day of the trial in the Court of King’s Bench in Brandon, Francine Mazawasicuna, 43, testified through tears. She said she and her brothers saw Blacksmith shoot Tacan during a roadside argument. She stated that Tacan was unarmed when the shooting occurred.
Francine testified that Blacksmith fired once, and Tacan immediately fell to the ground. She described how the incident unfolded in less than 15 minutes. Using an aerial map, she pointed out the scene and mimicked holding a sawed-off shotgun.
During cross-examination, defense co-counsel Anthony Dawson questioned whether the gun could have been handed to Blacksmith by the youth. Francine maintained that Blacksmith pointed the gun at Tacan before the shot was fired.
John Mazawasicuna, 37, was the second witness. He testified that he and his family were visiting their mother when they heard an argument. He saw Blacksmith grab something and shoot Tacan. John heard Tacan say, “oh, you have a gun,” before hearing a “pop” and seeing Tacan fall.
John testified that Blacksmith returned and stood over Tacan’s body for about a minute. During cross-examination, Dawson challenged John’s testimony and questioned whether alcohol was involved. John stated that his family had not been drinking that day.
The trial is expected to last about 10 days.
