Saratoga man sentenced in Sturgis shooting

Nearly a year after a shoot-out with law enforcement at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the Saratoga man involved has been sentenced to 55 years in prison.

Wyatt James Fluty, 29, was sentenced by Judge John Fitzgerald in Meade County Court on July 17. As part of a plea bargain announced In May of this year by Attorney General Marty Jackley, Fluty pled guilty to attempted first degree murder involving a law enforcement officer and commission of a felony while armed with a firearm.

The incident—which involved Fluty, a South Dakota highway patrol trooper and an off-duty out-of-state law enforcement officer—occured on August 9, 2023. Fluty, who was suspected of vehicle theft and possessing stolen firearms, was spotted by a South Dakota highway patrol trooper near Exit 32 in Sturgis. He fired at the trooper, who returned fire, and then tried to steal the patrol vehicle. A total of 42 shell casings were recovered from the scene by the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation with three determined to have come from Fluty, 32 from the highway patrol trooper and seven from the off-duty out-of-state law enforcement officer.

Fluty was apprehended after being shot.

At his sentencing, the trooper involved in the shoot-out told the court he had relived the day over and over and that it took an emotional toll on his mental health. The off-duty out-of-state law enforcement officer said the aftermath of the shoot-out had brought him anxiety and that Fluty had lived rent free in his head.

Fluty told the court he took accountability for his actions and apologized to the victims and community. He also apologized to his family and his mother, the latter who was in court for his sentencing.

Facing a maximum sentence of 75 years, the prosecution asked for 65 years: 40 years on the attempted first degree murder charge and 25 for the commission of a felony while armed charge. Judge Fitzgerald said he was troubled by Fluty’s past and his actions had created a ripple effect on those he hurt. The judge ultimately handed down a sentence of 50 years for the attempted murder charge and 5 years for the commission of a felony charge with the two sentences running consecutively, meaning Fluty will serve 55 years.