Community Unites for ‘Joe Blow,’ Local Elder Injured in Attack Outside Kyle Home

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - A close-knit community on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is rallying together after a well-known elder was severely injured in an attack outside his home.

Joe Martinez, 68—known affectionately around Kyle as “Joe Blow”—underwent emergency surgery at Monument Health in Rapid City and remains hospitalized in recovery.

According to family members and neighbors, Martinez was inside his home when he heard noises outside. When he stepped out to investigate, he was attacked and suffered multiple injuries, including a stab wound. The incident remains under investigation by authorities.

To the people of Kyle, Martinez is recognized as a staple of the community. A disabled elder who survived polio as a child, he is known for his gentle demeanor, his love of fishing, and his daily bicycle rides through town. For years, neighborhood children have brought their broken bicycles to Martinez, who fixes them up free of charge.

“He’s the kindest soul. Anything that he has, if anybody needs it, he gives it to them, even if it’s his last,” said Caroline Good Weasel, a local teacher who launched a grassroots fundraising effort for Martinez. “He’s just kind of like the grandpa around the Kyle community that takes care of everybody.”

As Martinez faces a long recovery, neighbors and local organizations are ensuring he has a strong support system waiting for him at home.

Calvin Red Owl, founder of the White Owl Sanctuary, stepped in immediately to feed and care for Martinez’s cat and two dogs while he is in the hospital.

Meanwhile, Good Weasel started an online fundraiser to help provide Martinez with winter essentials and ease his return home. Organizers hope to surprise him with sturdy winter clothing—including warm boots, leather gloves, and a heavy-duty jacket—as well as pet food, bicycle repair tools, and an all-terrain bicycle equipped with a cargo rack so he can safely haul groceries and pet food during the harsh winter months.

“I love our people and I love how we come together whenever there’s a tragedy happening,” Good Weasel said. “This is just another way of us showing that we take care of our own. We want to make Joe feel like this is his home, that he’s welcomed back, and that we wish him the best for his recovery.”

Community members wishing to contribute financially can find the campaign by searching for Caroline Good Weasel on Facebook or GoFundMe. Physical donations of warm winter gear, pet supplies, and bicycle tools can also be dropped off at the Lakota Waldorf School in Kyle.

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.