Frank Blackhorse facts for kids

Frank Blackhorse is a name used by a person who was involved with the American Indian Movement (AIM). He is known for his part in the Wounded Knee incident in 1973. He was later sought by authorities and went to Canada.

About Frank Blackhorse

Not much is known for sure about Frank Blackhorse's early life. Some records say he was born Frank Leonard Deluca, while others say Francis Deluca. There are also different ideas about where he was born, either in Cherokee, North Carolina, or Cleveland, Ohio.

Frank Blackhorse used many different names, also called aliases. These included Francis Blackhorse, Frank DeLuca, Bruce Johnson, and others. One person who knew him, Father Michael Campagna, identified him as Frank L. Deluca, born in Chicago, Illinois, to Kay Goldfein and Frank Deluca.

Involvement at Wounded Knee

The Wounded Knee incident was a major event in 1973 where members of the American Indian Movement occupied Wounded Knee, South Dakota. During this time, an FBI agent was injured. Frank Blackhorse was later connected to this event and was arrested. He was released on bail.

Later, in August 1974, a grand jury formally accused Frank Blackhorse of being involved in the shooting of the FBI agent. However, Blackhorse did not appear for his trial, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. His lawyer tried to keep the reasons for his absence private, and this decision was supported by the Supreme Court.

The Jumping Bull Compound Incident

Frank Blackhorse was also named as a person of interest in an investigation called RESMURS. This investigation looked into a shootout at a place called Jumping Bull Compound, where two FBI agents died. Because of this, the FBI wanted to find Blackhorse.

After the Incidents

Frank Blackhorse and another AIM activist, Leonard Peltier, were found and arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Hinton, Canada, in February 1976. They were taken to a prison in Vancouver, British Columbia.

There are different reports about whether Blackhorse was sent back to the United States. Some sources say he was, but others state that only Peltier was sent back. The accusations against Blackhorse related to the RESMURS investigation were later dropped. Some reports suggest that Blackhorse stayed in Canada and used different names after these events.

Where is Frank Blackhorse Now?

Frank Blackhorse's current location is unknown. His last known whereabouts were in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. After the accusations against him were dropped, some sources say he disappeared and has not been heard from since.

Frank Blackhorse's Importance

Many people who believe Leonard Peltier is innocent think that Frank Blackhorse holds important information. They believe he knows details about the deaths of the two FBI agents. Michael Kuzma, a lawyer for Peltier, has tried to find Blackhorse to help Peltier's case.

Kuzma has asked the U.S. Department of Justice for records about Blackhorse. He also filed a lawsuit to get these documents released. Kuzma has suggested that Blackhorse might have been working for the FBI to gather information from within the American Indian Movement. He believes that if this is true, it could explain some of the events that happened.

However, another group, the NPPA (No Parole Peltier Association), has questioned Kuzma's focus on Blackhorse. They point out that Peltier himself mentioned someone else who helped authorities with their arrest. The NPPA believes that Kuzma's ideas about Blackhorse do not directly prove anything about Peltier's involvement in the agents' deaths.

See also

• List of fugitives from justice who disappeared