On the morning of June 10, 2017, Rodolfo Rocha was outside a Grove Street home with friends and family.
At some point that morning, 29 year-old Anthony Medina, and 27 year-old Martin Garcia, Jr., approached the gathering and told them to declare a gang affiliation. When they replied that they were not gang members, Medina and Garcia pulled out guns and shot Rocha, killing him. During the incident Medina shot Garcia in the abdomen, and struck Rocha’s car. There were no other injuries.
On Wednesday, a Kane County jury convicted Medina of the offenses of First-degree murder, as well as:
- Armed violence, Class X felony
- Aggravated battery with a firearm, Class X felony
- Unlawful possession of a firearm by a street gang member, Class 2 felony
Additionally, the jury found that Medina personally discharged a gun that caused Rocha’s death. The jurors deliberated for about 4 hours before reaching the verdict.
In 2020, Garcia was sentenced to 75 years in prison after a jury convicted him of the felony offenses of first-degree murder, armed violence and unlawful possession of a firearm by a street gang member.
“I hope this verdict, as well as the guilty verdict against Mr. Garcia, provides the justice sought by Rodolfo Rocha’s family and friends,” said Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Lori Anderson in a statement. “Gang members who engage in senseless acts of violence will be prosecuted to the fullest and held accountable. My thanks to ASAs Belshan and Sadler, and to the Aurora Police Department, particularly Detective Crista Rees and retired Detective Guillermo Trujillo, both of whom played a pivotal role in these convictions.”
Kane County Judge David R. Kliment set Medina’s next court appearance for 1:30 p.m. on April 14, 2022, in Courtroom 305 at the Kane County Judicial Center for motions and sentencing.
Medina remains in custody at the Kane County jail, where he had been held in lieu of $3 million bail since his arrest. Judge Kliment revoked his bond upon conviction.
