Executive Summary
- A second wrongful death lawsuit claims BIA Officer Evan Parisien assaulted a woman off-duty months before a fatal shooting.
- The complaint alleges the BIA failed to suspend or restrict the officer despite the prior alleged assault.
- Jordan Parisien was shot four times in December 2024; plaintiffs argue he was not brandishing a weapon.
- Officer Parisien was previously involved in the 2020 fatal shooting of Brandon Laducer.
A second wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in federal court against a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officer involved in the fatal shooting of a man on the Turtle Mountain Reservation in December 2024. The complaint, filed on January 30, alleges that Officer Evan Parisien had physically assaulted a woman while off-duty prior to the shooting, yet faced no suspension or restrictions on his use of firearms by the agency.
The lawsuit was filed by Constance Wilkie on behalf of the minor daughter of the deceased, 32-year-old Jordan Ray Parisien. The defendants named in the case include the United States, the BIA, the Department of the Interior, the Office of Justice Services, and Officer Parisien in both his individual and official capacities. Attorneys Richard Monette and Jeff Dominic Price, representing the plaintiffs, stated that they became aware of the alleged off-duty assault through a video circulating online, which they believe was recorded in the summer of 2024.
According to court documents, the complaint asserts that the BIA failed to implement corrective action following the alleged assault. Instead, Officer Parisien remained on active duty and acted as the lead officer during the December 29, 2024, incident that resulted in Jordan Parisien’s death. Law enforcement reports indicate that Jordan Parisien was reported as armed and suicidal. A bystander video cited in the complaint allegedly depicts Officer Parisien approaching the suspect’s vehicle with a high-powered rifle.
The plaintiffs contend that Jordan Parisien exited his vehicle with his arms down and hands visible, and did not raise them before being shot four times. An autopsy report cited in the filing notes wounds to the head, back, and chest. While the BIA stated that a loaded handgun was recovered beneath the deceased’s body, the plaintiffs argue that the suspect never brandished the weapon or acted in a threatening manner that warranted lethal force.
This filing follows the voluntary dismissal of a separate lawsuit filed in September by Linus John Parisien, the father of the deceased. The current complaint also notes Officer Parisien’s involvement in a previous fatal shooting in 2020 involving Brandon Laducer, a case that was dismissed on procedural grounds. The new lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for loss of economic support, pain, and suffering.
Procedural Oversight and Civil Liability
This litigation brings into focus the internal disciplinary protocols of federal law enforcement agencies operating on tribal lands. The core of the plaintiff’s argument extends beyond the immediate circumstances of the shooting to the administrative decisions regarding Officer Parisien’s fitness for duty following the alleged off-duty misconduct. The case will likely prompt a judicial examination of the BIA’s internal affairs processes and whether the agency exercised due diligence in monitoring its personnel. If the court finds that the agency was negligent in retaining an officer with alleged violent tendencies, it could have broader implications for federal liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act. It is important to note that the claims in the lawsuit are civil allegations, and Officer Parisien is presumed innocent of any criminal wrongdoing until proven guilty in a court of law.
