FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – More than 10 months after 19-year-old Azeem Holmes was shot and killed in downtown Fargo, the city's new police chief says investigators are still actively working to find whoever is responsible.
Chief Travis Stefonowicz, who was sworn in as Fargo's 39th police chief on May 26, sat down with Valley News Live one-on-one, addressing one of the city's most high-profile unsolved cases.
“Criminal Investigations Division and the state's attorney's office are in communication on a regular basis,†Stefonowicz said. “They're reviewing evidence, they're reviewing documents, they're doing their best work to try to come up with the right answer for this case, for everybody. So there's still more to come. Unfortunately, I can't share a lot of details because it's still an open investigation, but just know this, they're still working on it on a very regular basis, and we hope to come to a conclusion in the near future.â€
Holmes was fatally shot in the early morning hours of Aug. 3, 2025. Two others were wounded in the shooting.
The case drew widespread attention after a four-month manhunt ended in December 2025 with the arrest of Tyrque Jones in Minneapolis. Murder charges against Jones were dropped days later after new evidence emerged during police interviews, with investigators redirecting focus toward another potential suspect. No one has been charged in connection with Holmes' death.
Stefonowicz, who served as assistant chief at the time of the shooting, said the shift in suspects, while frustrating, is part of the investigative process.
“It's not uncommon for a charge to be dismissed or a suspect to change along the way as new information becomes available,†he said. “Our role in all of this is to always follow the facts. Where do the facts lead us? The information we had at the time led us to a particular suspect. That information was then dismissed, new information came to light, so we're following that information now.â€
The chief acknowledged the investigation has been complicated by a lack of cooperation from witnesses.
“This is a very complex case, and there are many people involved, which makes it difficult, not just because of the sheer volume, but the level of cooperation,†Stefonowicz said. “Obviously, this was a serious crime, and people might not feel like they can come forward, or they might not feel like they have any information that we don't already have, which couldn't be any further from the truth. It doesn't matter how big or small that piece of information is. We want to have all that information so that we can find the right person and talk to those people and figure out what exactly happened, so we can put this to rest for Azeem and his family.â€
Anyone with information on the Aug. 3 shooting is asked to contact Red River Regional Dispatch at (701) 451-7660. Anonymous tips can be submitted by texting the keyword FARGOPD and the tip to 847411.
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