Castle Rock Christmas Eve shooting now charged as second-degree murder
A Castle Rock Township couple’s home in rural Dakota County was the scene of a Christmas Eve shooting that left 26-year-old Tatianna Marie Ehnes-Giles dead and led to 29-year-old Demarco Marquie Jones of Farmington being charged with one count of second-degree murder. Deputies say five other family members, including the couple’s two children, were inside the 250th Street West house, a child reported Jones saying both “I’ve been shot, she shot me, call 911” and then “I shot her,” and investigators found Ehnes-Giles deceased on an upstairs bed with a handgun and two spent casings recovered as the sheriff characterized the incident as a homicide and attempted suicide tied to a single domestic episode and said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
📌 Key Facts
- On Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) deputies responded to a shooting at a home on 250th Street West in rural Castle Rock Township, Dakota County; the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office is formally characterizing the incident as a homicide and attempted suicide and says there is no ongoing threat to the public.
- The sheriff’s release ties the fatal shooting and a man’s head wound to a single domestic episode at the 250th Street West address.
- The suspect is identified as 29-year-old Demarco Marquie Jones of Farmington; the victim is identified as 26-year-old Tatianna Marie Ehnes-Giles.
- Jones has been charged in Dakota County with one count of second-degree murder in connection with the Dec. 24 shooting.
- Deputies found Ehnes-Giles dead on an upstairs bed with her hands in front of her face 'as if she was protecting herself,' and recovered a handgun and two spent shell casings from the bedroom.
- Five other family members, including the couple’s two children, were inside the home at the time of the shooting.
- According to the criminal complaint, a child heard Jones first say, 'I've been shot. She shot me, call 911,' and then, 'I shot her.'
- Sheriff Joe Leko described the killing as a 'tragic act of domestic violence' and praised deputies and first responders involved in the case.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, Black persons in the United States experienced the highest rate of intimate partner homicide at 2.0 per 100,000 population, compared to lower rates for other racial groups.
Homicide Victimization in the United States, 2023 — Bureau of Justice Statistics
Black women comprise 7% of Minnesota's population but account for 40% of domestic violence victims in the state.
Report identifies major gaps in MPD's response to domestic violence — Minnesota Reformer
In 2022, 55% of murder victims in Minnesota where race is known were African-American, despite African-Americans comprising approximately 7% of the state's population.
The demographics of crime in Minnesota, with updated 2022 data — American Experiment
Racial disparities in the justice system, including higher homicide rates among Black populations, can stem from socioeconomic factors, differences in crime rates, and cultural norms.
Reducing Racial Disparity While Enhancing Public Safety — Council on Crime and Justice
Minnesota Blacks are much more likely to live in high-crime urban areas and much less likely to live in low-crime rural areas compared to Whites, contributing to disparities in crime involvement.
Racial Disproportionality in MN Prisons & Jails: Crime & Justice Vol 38 — University of Chicago Press Journals
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Identifies the suspect as 29-year-old Demarco Marquie Jones of Farmington and the victim as 26-year-old Tatianna Marie Ehnes-Giles.
- Confirms Jones is charged with one count of second-degree murder in Dakota County in connection with the Dec. 24 shooting.
- Details that five other family members, including the couple’s two children, were inside the home at the time of the shooting.
- Reports a child heard Jones first say, "I’ve been shot. She shot me, call 911," and then, "I shot her," according to the criminal complaint.
- Describes that deputies found Ehnes-Giles dead on an upstairs bed with her hands in front of her face "as if she was protecting herself," and recovered a handgun and two spent shell casings from the bedroom.
- Includes Sheriff Joe Leko’s public statement framing the killing as a "tragic act of domestic violence" and praising deputies and first responders.
- Dakota County Sheriff’s Office is formally characterizing the Castle Rock Township incident as a homicide and attempted suicide.
- The sheriff’s office confirms it is investigating the shooting and reiterates there is no ongoing threat to the public.
- Additional context from the sheriff’s release (beyond initial police radio summaries) ties the fatal shooting and the man’s head wound into a single domestic episode at the 250th Street West address.