Tyrque Jones Hennepin County Jail Dec. 3, 2025
FARGO (KFGO) – Fargo Police say the murder suspect they had been looking for since August has not been released from custody as the department said earlier Friday although the murder charge against him has been dismissed.
Tyrque Jones, 20, was arrested Wednesday after being located in the Twin Cities. He had been the suspect in the murder of 19-year-old Azeem Holmes, who was shot and killed outside of District 64 in downtown Fargo.
Police say Jones the murder charge was dismissed after interviews with Jones and further analysis of video related to the case. Now, their focus is being redirected to other potential suspects. On Friday afternoon, he remained in the Hennepin County jail in Minneapolis for a probation violation and a terrorizing charge not related to the homicide.
“Certainly regret any distress caused by the earlier identification and arrest,” said Captain Matt Christensen. “Although we are also frustrated that Mr. Jones did not come forward on his own to provide a statement during the initial stages of this investigation. While I’m sensitive to the fact this development may be upsetting or confusing to some, please know that probable cause for an arrest does not equate to guilt. That is part of the reason why the interview of someone determined to be a suspect is so crucial.”
The alleged killer is still out there and police have not identified another suspect or suspects. Investigators say these new developments set them back by four months.
“Yeah, I mean that’s extremely unfortunate and again, like I said, it would have been nice to have this information four months ago. But to tell the public, I think we still live in a safe community. Certainly encourage the public to come forward and bring any information that they have that we might not have that would help us locate this person.”
Christensen says it’s a complicated case with a lot of witnesses.
“We have been looking for other people we know were there and we think might have crucial information that would help this investigation, it’s just that we can’t locate them or they’re not willing to talk to us,” Christensen explains.
The Fargo Police Department held two news conferences about the murder investigation this week; one about Jones’ arrest and another about his release. However, Police Chief David Zibolski wasn’t at either one. When asked about it, Assistant Chief Travis Stefanowicz wouldn’t directly comment on where the chief has been.
“Just out of respect for the Azeem Holmes family we’d like to keep the context of our questions today focused on the investigation. But I can assure you Chief Zibolski and our entire executive team is well aware and informed of this. The importance was getting information out quickly and accurately,” Stefanowicz said.
Two other people were shot downtown. One person was hospitalized in critical condition. The other victim suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Not long after the downtown shooting, West Fargo police responded to an apartment complex in southwest Fargo for another shooting. 20-year-old Elijah Hughes died in that shooting. A Jamestown man is charged with murder in the shooting of Hughes.
Investigators say the two shootings are likely related and involve a feud between two groups of people. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fargo Police Department.
Previous Coverage:
- Fargo man wanted in deadly downtown Fargo shooting in custody
- Victims of fatal Fargo shootings identified, search on for suspect
- Arrest made in one of two deadly shootings in Fargo, 2nd suspect still sought
- Fargo police release more information on pair of deadly weekend shootings
- Fargo Police asking for public’s help locating suspect in separate overnight shootings
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