Frank Blackhorse facts for kids

Frank Blackhorse is a name used by a person who was involved with the American Indian Movement (AIM). AIM is a group that works for the rights of Native American people. Frank Blackhorse is known for being part of the Wounded Knee incident in 1973. He was also a fugitive, meaning he was on the run from the law, and went to Canada.

Who is Frank Blackhorse?

Frank Blackhorse used several different names. Some of these names include Frank DeLuca, Bruce Johnson, and Richard Tall Bull. There is not much clear information about his early life. Some records say he was born Frank Leonard Deluca or Francis Deluca.

Blackhorse said he was a member of the Cherokee nation. However, some sources, including the FBI, said he was not Native American. They believed he was of Italian background. There are also different ideas about where he was born. Blackhorse claimed he was born in Cherokee, North Carolina. But the FBI said he was born in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Wounded Knee Incident

The Wounded Knee incident was a major event in 1973. It involved a standoff between Native American activists and U.S. government forces.

On March 11, 1973, an FBI agent named Curtis A. Fitzgerald was shot in the wrist. Frank Blackhorse was arrested because he was thought to have shot the agent. He was later released on bail.

In August 1974, a Federal Grand Jury formally accused Frank Blackhorse of shooting Agent Fitzgerald. This happened in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Blackhorse did not show up for his trial. Because of this, a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

Shootout at Jumping Bull Compound

Frank Blackhorse was also named as a suspect in a serious shootout. This event happened at a place called Jumping Bull Compound. During this shootout, two FBI agents, Jack Coler and Ronald Williams, died.

Because of his suspected involvement, Blackhorse was placed on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List in the 1970s. This list includes people the FBI considers very important to catch.

After the Shootout

Frank Blackhorse and another person, Leonard Peltier, were arrested in Canada. This happened in February 1976. They were caught by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Hinton, Alberta. They were then taken to a prison in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Both were sent back to the United States. However, the charges against Blackhorse related to the shootout where the FBI agents died were later dropped. Some reports even say that Blackhorse was never officially sent back to the U.S. and was allowed to stay free in western Canada.

Where is Frank Blackhorse Now?

Today, no one knows where Frank Blackhorse is. After the charges against him were dropped, he seemed to disappear. Some people believe he was allowed to vanish and has not been heard from since.

An author named Antoinette Nora Claypoole wrote a book about another event related to AIM. She said that Blackhorse disappeared shortly after Peltier was arrested in Canada in 1976.

Frank Blackhorse's Importance

Many people who support Leonard Peltier believe Frank Blackhorse holds important information. They think this information could help prove Peltier's innocence. Peltier was convicted in connection with the deaths of the two FBI agents.

Michael Kuzma, a lawyer for Leonard Peltier, has tried to find Blackhorse. He believes Blackhorse has details about the deaths of the two FBI agents. Kuzma has even filed lawsuits to get government records about Blackhorse. He hopes these records will help locate him.

Kuzma has also suggested that Blackhorse might have been working for the FBI. He claims Blackhorse was sent to join AIM and gain the trust of its members. Kuzma believes that the FBI's actions, including using informants, led to the agents' deaths. He has pointed to documents that suggest Blackhorse provided information from inside the American Indian Movement.