A former Black Hills prosecutor has been accused of murder in connection with a fatal stabbing in Tempe, Ariz.

Dan Ray Gukeisen, 37, was arrested last Friday on suspicion of second-degree murder after a 22-year-old Arizona State University student was stabbed to death on a downtown street. Gukeisen has not been formally charged.

Gukeisen served as a deputy state's attorney in Lawrence County for about two years after graduating from law school, Lawrence County State's Attorney John Fitzgerald confirmed. He said Gukeisen returned to work as a deputy state's attorney in Lawrence County in 2004 for about 10 months.

Gukeisen also served briefly as the Davison County State's Attorney in Mitchell. The current state's attorney, Patrick Smith, said Gukeisen was appointed to the position by the Davison County Commission in the late 1990s after the elected state's attorney resigned. Smith said Gukeisen served as state's attorney for about a year.

According to Tempe police, the victim, Garrett Hohn, and a 21-year-old friend were walking home from the Mill Avenue Downtown District in Tempe just after 2 a.m. Friday when they became involved in an argument with Gukeisen. Police say the argument turned physical, and Hohn was stabbed.

Hohn's companion was not injured. Passers-by gave Hohn first aid until paramedics arrived. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, police said.

Sgt. Steve Carbajal, public information officer for the Tempe Police Department, said Gukeisen was later arrested at a nearby condo. Carbajal said the downtown neighborhood is being redeveloped and encompasses some upscale housing areas.

Carbajal said police don't know why the men - who apparently did not know each other - were arguing.

In addition to working as a prosecutor in South Dakota, Gukeisen worked for Clayborne & Loos law firm in Rapid City for a time. He currently works as a bankruptcy attorney for Gukeisen Law Group in Phoenix.

The Mitchell Daily Republic reported Tuesday that Hohn was a senior at ASU, expecting to graduate this year with a business degree.

Contact Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com