Lokia Jay Lee Walking Eagle, a 3-year-old Native American girl, tragically lost her life on March 4, 2025, in a violent incident at her home in St. Michael, North Dakota, located on the Spirit Lake Reservation. She was with her mother, 31-year-old Tiana Sharel Walking Eagle, who also died in the same event. Lokia was remembered as a happy and joyous child who brought immense love to her family.
The tranquility of their home was shattered when authorities responded to a call and
discovered both Lokia and her mother deceased from gunshot wounds to the head. Another family member, Lokia's grandmother, was also shot in the head but survived the initial attack and was transported to a hospital in critical condition. A fourth person in the house managed to escape unharmed as the shooter paused to reload his weapon.
The suspect in this devastating event was identified as 27-year-old Johnnie Jay Gaking, who was Lokia's uncle and Tiana's brother. Gaking was reportedly living in the same home with his mother, sister, and niece. In the time leading up to the incident, Gaking had allegedly been acting erratically, claiming that men in ski masks were chasing him. He had reportedly threatened his family, stating that if they didn't believe him, he would kill them.
Following the shooting, Gaking fled the scene and drove to a cousin's house. There, with what witnesses described as "crazy eyes," he claimed his family was dead but that he was not responsible. It was also at this location that he reportedly stabbed himself multiple times. He then left and crashed his vehicle into a ditch, where he was subsequently taken into custody. While being transported for medical attention for his self-inflicted wounds, he initially told law enforcement that "men in ski masks" had forced him to kill his family and had stabbed him. He later admitted to the shootings and to attempting to take his own life. Johnnie Jay Gaking has since been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
