Man Charged After Dakota County Christmas Eve Shooting
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A Dakota County man is charged with murder following a fatal shooting inside a Castle Rock Township home on Christmas Eve.
Deputies with the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office were sent to the 3700 block of 250th Street West at about 2:23 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2025, after a report that a woman had been shot inside a residence.
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When deputies entered the home, they found 26-year-old Tatianna Ehnes-Giles dead in an upstairs bedroom from a gunshot wound to the head.
Deputies also located her 29-year-old boyfriend, Demarco Marquie Jones, semi-conscious on the second-floor stairway just outside the bedroom. Authorities say Jones had blood on his hands and the back of his head from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. According to investigators, Jones told deputies that the gun was “in the room.” A handgun and two spent shell casings were recovered from the scene.
Five other family members who live in the home were present at the time of the shooting, including two young children shared by Ehnes-Giles and Jones. No one else was injured. Jones was taken to a hospital for treatment for his injuries.
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“This tragic act of domestic violence claimed the life of a beloved mother, daughter, sister, and friend on her 26th birthday and on Christmas Eve. We extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” Dakota County Sheriff Joe Leko said in a statement.
Leko also praised the response to the incident, saying, “Our highly trained deputies and investigators were tasked with processing a very challenging scene and did so with professionalism and care. We are also grateful to our Dakota 911 dispatchers and first responder partners their assistance and professionalism throughout this tragic incident.”
Jones remains in custody as the case moves forward in Dakota County District Court. If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in prison.
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