Officer Ryan Bialke was killed when David Brian Donnell opened fire at officers on July 27th, 2021 when the Red Lake Tribal Police Department responded to a call to conduct a welfare check at a residence in Redby. Upon arrival, officers found Donnell standing outside on the porch and attempted to have him walk toward the officers, but Donnell instead went inside the residence. Because Donnell had an active tribal warrant and was refusing to comply, the officers made the decision to breach the door. As soon as the door was breached, Donnell opened fire on the officers.
Donnell entered a plea of guilty on April 1st to one count of murder in the second degree. He was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court to 37 years in prison by Judge John R. Tunheim.
