Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota
End of Watch Saturday, August 6, 2011
Add to My HeroesNicholas Keegan Armstrong
Police Officer Nick Armstrong and Police Officer J. Ryan McCandless were shot and killed as they and another officer questioned four suspicious subjects at the intersection of East Anamosa and Greenbriar Streets at about 4:30 p.m.
After several minutes a male subject in the group pulled out a concealed handgun and opened fire, striking all three officers before being wounded by return fire. The subject was shot and fatally wounded.
All three officers were transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Officer McCandless was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the hospital, and Officer Nick Armstrong succumbed to his wounds five days later.
Officer Armstrong had served with the Rapid City Police Department for two years and was assigned to the Street Crimes Unit. He had previously served two years with the Spearfish Police Department. He is survived by his parents, two brothers, grandmother, and cousins.
He is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Rapid City, South Dakota.
Bio
- Age 27
- Tour 4 years
- Badge 639
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Tuesday, August 2, 2011
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Shot and killed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 189 ReflectionsStopped by the site of shooting today and thought of your service and sacrifice. Such a wonderful memorial. Rest easy.
Lt. Riley Finnegan (retired)
Billings, MT Police Department
February 24, 2024
Recent LODD Deaths
Detective Timothy Jones
Park Forest Police Department, IL
EOW: December 3, 2025
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom
United States Department of Defense - Army National Guard - West Virginia Army National Guard, WV
EOW: November 27, 2025
Reserve Deputy Sheriff John C. Stahl, III
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: June 8, 2025
Sergeant Terri Jean Sweeting-Mashkow
Indian River County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: November 21, 2025
Police Officer Alec Sanders
Alhambra Police Department, CA
EOW: November 20, 2025
Corrections Officer Jeremy Lewis Hall
Virginia Department of Corrections, VA
EOW: November 17, 2025
Police Officer Marc Brock
Vivian Police Department, LA
EOW: November 14, 2025
Corporal Blake Adair Reynolds
Delaware County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: November 12, 2025
Police Officer Roger Smith
WakeMed Campus Police & Public Safety Department, NC
EOW: November 8, 2025





