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Summary: Tatianna "Tayah" Marie Ehnes-Giles, 26, was fatally shot in the head on her birthday, December 24, 2025, in Castle Rock Township, Minnesota. Authorities allege her boyfriend, Demarco Marquie Jones, 29, fired the gun in their shared home while their two children, ages 5 and 6, played nearby. Jones then attempted suicide but survived. He faces second-degree murder charges, with bail set at $2 million. Community members have organized fundraisers to support the grieving family.
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CASTLE ROCK TOWNSHIP, Minn. — A local man faces murder charges after authorities say he fatally shot the mother of his two young children in their home on Christmas Eve, a day that doubled as her 26th birthday.
Demarco Marquie Jones, 29, allegedly fired a single gunshot into Tatianna "Tayah" Marie Ehnes-Giles' head in the upstairs bedroom of their shared residence in Dakota County, according to court documents. The incident left Ehnes-Giles lifeless on her bed, her hands raised in a defensive posture, investigators reported. Jones then turned the weapon on himself in an apparent suicide attempt, sustaining a head wound that required hospitalization but did not prove fatal.
The sequence began around 2:20 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2025, when the couple's 5- and 6-year-old children, playing nearby, heard sharp bangs from the bedroom. Startled, the youngsters rushed downstairs to alert Ehnes-Giles' mother, who lived in the lower unit of the triplex along with other relatives. One child demonstrated the sounds by pounding on a wall, while both told their grandmother that "Daddy fell," according to statements provided to deputies.
The grandmother hurried upstairs and discovered Jones on the floor, groaning and bloodied. He initially claimed Ehnes-Giles had shot him and urged her to call emergency services. Moments later, he confessed, "I shot her," authorities said. She found her daughter covered in blood and unresponsive, prompting a frantic 911 call. Deputies from the Dakota County Sheriff's Office arrived shortly after, confirming Ehnes-Giles' death and securing the scene, where they recovered a firearm.
An autopsy conducted by medical examiners ruled the death a homicide caused by the gunshot wound. Jones, while receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, reportedly told one of Ehnes-Giles' brothers that he had acted after learning she had been unfaithful. He remained in stable condition and was formally charged on Dec. 29 with second-degree intentional murder. A judge set bail at $2 million, and Jones is expected to be transferred to county jail upon medical clearance, with an initial court appearance scheduled for early January.
Family members described Ehnes-Giles as a devoted parent who cherished time with her kids, often organizing backyard gatherings and holiday events. She had worked as a server at a Lakeville restaurant for nearly a decade, starting in her teens, relatives said. Her sister praised her as someone with an infectious spirit who prioritized her role as a mother above all. The children are now in the care of extended family.
In the community, residents have rallied with support. A memorial fundraiser set for late January at a Farmington pub aims to honor her memory and aid her loved ones with expenses. A crowdfunding campaign has also been launched to cover funeral costs and provide for the youngsters' future needs.
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