In a recent incident in Chicago, Kenneth Brown, 44, was charged with the murder of Maria Roque, 34, following an alleged domestic dispute. The incident occurred on Dec. 13 in the 500 block of North Long Avenue, where Brown reportedly confronted Rocky in front of her home around 6:20 a.m.
According to Chicago police and court records, an altercation ensued, resulting in Brown firing fatal shots at Rocky. A quick police response led to Brown's arrest Friday in the 3100 block of West Harrison Street. He is now charged with first-degree murder.
Rocky was rushed to Stroger Hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest, but despite medical efforts, she was pronounced dead at 6:53 a.m., the Cook County medical examiner confirmed.
Rocky's family said the shooting happened near her home in the area of Long Avenue and Kinsey, where her 8-year-old daughter was said to be in a car nearby. The agonizing ordeal continued as Rocky's 14-year-old son bravely attempted CPR in a desperate attempt to save his mother, but his efforts were tragically unsuccessful.
Court records indicate Rocky's children witnessed the tragic shooting.
Maria Roque's attempt at protection from Kenneth Brown
The unfolding tragedy in the death of Maria Roque in Chicago reveals painful details about the preceding events leading up to the fatal accident. Roque sought legal protection by obtaining an emergency order against Kenneth Brown on November 7, an indication of earlier concerns.
Reports of a previous argument between the two highlight the urgency of Rocky's actions. According to a protective order petition obtained by the Chicago Sun Times, a week before the order was issued, Rocky and Brown got into a violent altercation that ended with Brown grabbing Rocky and throwing him to the ground.
Kenneth Brown allegedly threatened to set Rocky's car on fire, vandalize her property, and destroy her property.
In response to these threats, Roque sought legal protection and obtained an emergency order on November 7. The order expressly prohibited Brown from having any contact with Rocky, including entering her home, and prohibited harassment, stalking, or intimidation. Additionally, the order of protection prohibited him from taking their 8-year-old daughter from Rocky's care.
Court records reviewed by Law&Crime highlight the agonizing timeline for protective orders in Rocky's case.
The order of protection was initially issued on November 7 against Kenneth Brown. Despite this initial intervention, the order was extended twice, on November 28 and then again on December 13, just hours before Roque's death. On the morning of the shooting, the protective order was extended again, with the goal of providing safety until January 3, 2024.
To further aggravate the situation, authorities issued an arrest warrant for Brown the day before Rocky's death, citing an alleged violation of the protective order they had issued against him.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported police papers showing that at about 6:20 a.m., Rocky had just placed her 4-year-old daughter, whom she shared with Kenneth Brown, in the back seat of a rental car while she stood in the front. From her house. When Brown was said to have appeared, things took a terrifying turn. When Rocky noticed him coming, she reportedly screamed and tried to run, hoping to escape the approaching danger.
Unfortunately, her efforts to escape proved futile. Brown fired several shots at Rocky. The report indicates that she suffered serious injuries to her shoulder, chest and thumb in the terrifying confrontation. Before his arrest, police issued a public appeal for help locating Kenneth.
Kenneth Brown is charged with murder and Maria Rock's family speaks out
Speaking to CBS affiliate WBBM in Chicago, Andres Roque, Maria Roque's twin brother, expressed the impact of his sister's violent death.
“I want to cry,” Andres Roque shared in a heartfelt interview in front of the camera, “I want to throw things, but I can’t.”
Andres Roque revealed that Maria Roque's 8-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son were present during the event. The boy bravely tried to perform CPR on his mother, telling his uncle: “I tried to save her.”
Andres Roque recounted the painful experience his nephew faced, saying: “One of them was in the car, and the other heard the shot, and saw his mother on the stairs trying to breathe.”
On Saturday morning, as volunteers led by George McDade, president of Cook County Crime Stoppers, were preparing to distribute fliers offering a $15,000 reward for information in the Maria Rock case, news arrived of the arrest of Kenneth Brown as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. . Brown, the ex-boyfriend accused of killing Maria Roque, was arrested just in time.
McDade shared that everyone was actively cooperating, providing important information to assist the police investigation.
McDade expressed his sense of closure by filing charges against Kenneth Brown. He referred to it as a “sad case, but it's a good way to end it,” acknowledging that the legal action represented an important step toward accountability.
Kenneth Brown appeared in court on Sunday, December 31, where he was remanded into custody by the Cook County Sheriff's Office, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
