In the early hours of August 3, 2025, a burst of gunfire shattered the downtown quiet of Fargo, North Dakota, leaving 19-year-old Azeem Holmes, a Black/African American male, fatally wounded. The shooting occurred shortly before 2 a.m. in the 50 block of Broadway North, just outside the District 64 nightclub. Officers who were already patrolling the downtown area were on the scene within moments. Holmes was quickly transported by ambulance to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries. Two other men, aged 21 and 23, were also struck by the gunfire. One of these men was initially listed in critical condition, while the other sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation into the deadly shooting quickly pointed to an ongoing feud between two groups, with police suggesting the attack was not a random act of violence. This incident was linked to a second fatal shooting that took place approximately 30 minutes later on 16th Avenue South, where 20-year-old Elijah Hughes was killed. In the immediate aftermath of the downtown shooting that claimed Holmes's life, officers pursued and arrested a 24-year-old man named Kengi Moses for probation violations after he was seen fleeing the area with a weapon.
Detectives swiftly identified 20-year-old Tyrque Jones of Fargo as the primary suspect in the murder of Azeem Holmes. An arrest warrant for murder was issued for Jones, and authorities publicly warned that he should be considered armed and dangerous. His image was circulated by city officials and media outlets as the search for him began. Jones was subsequently charged in Cass County District Court with murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment connected to the attack that killed Holmes.
While another man, C'Aundre Douglas, was arrested in connection with the related killing of Elijah Hughes, Tyrque Jones remained at large. By early October, authorities reported that the manhunt for Jones had expanded into a nationwide search. Investigators affirmed that even in his absence, the case against him was progressing in preparation for his eventual capture and court proceedings.
