CHICAGO — In a Law and Crime report dated Monday, January 1, 2024, authorities have apprehended a Chicago man accused of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend in the presence of her two children last month, following a rigorous two-week manhunt.
Kenneth Brown, 44, faces a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Maria Roque, 34, a mother of three.
The Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force successfully captured Brown on Dec. 29 at a location in the 3100 block of W. Harrison Street, as disclosed by the Chicago Police Department.
More Read
Brown, identified as the prime suspect, allegedly shot Roque in front of her residence in the 500 block of N. Long Avenue in Chicago’s West Side Austin neighborhood on Dec. 13.
As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, Roque had secured a protection order against Brown in November, citing previous assaults and threats to her and her property.
The order prohibited Brown from contacting Roque, taking their 8-year-old daughter, or removing any pets from her custody. The order, last extended on the same day as Roque’s tragic demise, December 13, proved ineffective in preventing the fatal encounter.
Reports from the Chicago Sun-Times detail the events of the fateful morning, indicating that Roque, leaving her home at approximately 6:20 a.m., encountered Brown. Despite her attempts to flee and cries for help, Brown allegedly shot her multiple times in the shoulder, chest, and thumb.
Roque’s 14-year-old son, who responded to the gunshots, and her daughter, situated in the back seat of a rental car, were unfortunate witnesses to the tragic incident.
Attempts to revive Roque at the scene proved futile, and she succumbed to her injuries.
In an interview with Chicago CBS affiliate WBBM, Roque’s twin brother, Andres Roque, expressed devastation and recounted the traumatic impact on his nephew and niece. He shared the heart-wrenching experience of his nephew trying to save his mother.
Brown, sought by law enforcement since December 12 for violating the protection order, managed to elude capture until the fugitive task force tracked him down on December 29.
During a court appearance on Sunday, Brown was ordered to be held without bond. Records indicate he is scheduled to return to court on Wednesday.
