A North Dakota man has been arrested after allegedly shooting his sister and 3-year-old niece and injuring his mother on an Indian reservation. The suspect, 27-year-old Johnnie Jay Gaking, faces two counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. The fatal incident occurred at a home on the Spirit Lake Reservation near Tokio.
Authorities responding to the scene discovered two victims, a 31-year-old woman and her young daughter, both dead from gunshot wounds to the head. The suspect’s mother was also shot but survived and was rushed to a hospital for treatment.
After the shooting, Gaking reportedly drove to another home on the reservation, arriving with a distressed expression and blood on his chest and abdomen from self-inflicted stab wounds. Witnesses said he claimed his sister was dead and initially denied responsibility. He later drove off but crashed into a ditch, where officers took him into custody.
While being transported to the hospital, he allegedly told an agent that masked men had been stalking him and that they had forced him to commit the crime. At first, he claimed these men had stabbed him, but he later admitted he had attempted suicide.
A witness present at the time of the shooting told authorities that Gaking had been acting erratically, speaking about being followed by masked men. When his family dismissed his claims, he became agitated, throwing objects and making threats. He allegedly declared, “If you don’t wanna believe me, I’m gonna kill all of you then.” Moments later, he entered a bedroom where his sister, niece, and mother were located and began shooting.
After firing multiple rounds, he paused to reload and turned his attention to the witness, allegedly stating, “You’re next.” The witness managed to escape, fleeing as additional gunshots rang out.
Gaking is currently being held without bond at the Ward County Jail.
