Apple Valley Man Charged with Murder in Deadly Stabbing

Jul 10

A 20-year-old man is facing a second-degree murder charge in Dakota County after police say he stabbed another man to death early Sunday in Apple Valley.

Aron Isait Medina Rojas is accused of killing 21-year-old Daniel Isaac Aguilar around 3:12 a.m. on July 6, 2025, after a confrontation on a residential sidewalk.

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Aguilar was found unresponsive with puncture wounds to the left side of his chest and a significant amount of blood around his body.

PREVIOUSLY: Man Found Dead on Apple Valley Sidewalk Early Sunday

Officers traced a blood trail leading to Aguilar’s body and found several of his belongings scattered in a nearby driveway. Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed Aguilar walking with personal items before a vehicle pulled up and voices could be heard arguing off-camera.

At 2:40 a.m., footage showed Aguilar and another male—later identified as Medina Rojas—on the sidewalk. Police say Medina Rojas closed the distance between them and struck Aguilar in the chest, prompting Aguilar to say, “I’m fucking walking home bro. Let me be.” Medina Rojas then reportedly punched Aguilar in the throat, causing him to collapse.

Moments later, Medina Rojas and a woman, believed to be the same person seen earlier in the night at a club with Aguilar, returned to the scene. The woman shined a phone light on Aguilar as both stood over his body before walking back toward the vehicle and leaving the area.

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Officers later interviewed Aguilar’s girlfriend, who told them the victim had been arguing with her earlier that night at a club in Minneapolis. She said they drove back to Apple Valley and continued to argue in a parking lot. At the time, her friend—who was angry about Aguilar’s past infidelity—was nearby with Medina Rojas. That friend and Medina Rojas picked her up, and while driving, they saw Aguilar walking. Medina Rojas allegedly asked if Aguilar “had a strap on,” which the witness interpreted as a gun. Medina Rojas and the friend then left, but when Aguilar’s phone stopped moving, the witness returned to check the location and found him dead.

Police also interviewed the friend who was with Medina Rojas. She told investigators they saw Aguilar walking again later in the morning, and she got out of the car to confront him. A fight broke out between Aguilar and Medina Rojas, and the woman said she saw Aguilar extend his arm before sitting down. Medina Rojas returned to the car with blood on his shirt and told her they needed to leave.

An autopsy found multiple sharp force injuries to Aguilar’s chest, shoulder and arm, along with blunt force trauma to his neck. His death was ruled a homicide.

Medina Rojas is charged with second-degree murder with intent, not premeditated. Apple Valley authorities say he may be trying to flee to Mexico. He is associated with a 2017 gray Chrysler 300, Minnesota license plate SKU892, though it’s unclear if he is still using the vehicle.

If you see Medina Rojas, call 911 immediately. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact the Apple Valley Police Department at (952) 322-2323.

If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in prison.

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