Man charged with murder of sister and niece, attempted murder of mother on Spirit Lake Reservation

Johnnie Jay Gaking IV (27) appeared in federal court on March 10 facing two counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder for a March 4 shooting on the Spirit Lake Reservation. Prosecutors allege Gaking shot and killed his adult sister and her 3-year-old daughter and wounded his mother at a residence near Tokio, North Dakota. His mother suffered a head wound and identified her son as the shooter. After the shooting, Gaking allegedly fled to another house where witnesses observed him with self-inflicted stab wounds and “crazy eyes.” He reportedly told residents “they’re all dead, I didn’t do it.” Gaking later claimed to law enforcement that men in ski masks forced him to kill his family. A family member reported Gaking had been experiencing paranoia about men in ski masks, hadn’t been sleeping, and had threatened his family earlier that day. Gaking is being held at Ward County Correctional Center until his detention hearing on March 13. He could face life imprisonment if convicted.