Man convicted in 2017 Aurora murder

A man was convicted of murder Tuesday in the fatal 2017 shooting of a man in west suburban Aurora.

A Kane County jury found 25-year-old Martin Garcia Jr. guilty of felony counts of first-degree murder, armed violence and unlawful possession of a firearm by a street gang member for the killing of 34-year-old Rodolfo Rocha Jr., according to a statement from the Kane County state’s attorney’s office.

Garcia, of Aurora, is facing between 65 years and life in prison, prosecutors said.

Kane County state’s attorney’s office

About 12:35 a.m. on June 10, 2017, police arrived at a home in the 1100 block of Grove Street, where they found Rocha, an Aurora resident, shot several times, Aurora police said at the time. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rocha was standing outside the home with a group of friends when Garcia and Anthony C. Medina walked up with handguns and opened fire, police and prosecutors said. Everyone ran from the scene except Rocha.

During the incident, Medina also shot Garcia in the side, prosecutors said.

About 1:55 a.m., a patrol officer spotted Medina, who matched the description of one of the suspects, walking in the 400 block of North Farnsworth, police said. He was taken into custody without incident.

Kane County sheriff’s office

About the same time, Garcia walked into an Aurora hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, police said. Investigators believed the shootings were related “and were eventually able to tie Garcia to the murder, despite the fact that he was very uncooperative with authorities,” police said.

Garcia is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 4 for the filing of motions and for a judge to set a sentencing date.

Medina remains in custody at the Kane County Jail on $3 million bail, authorities said. He is facing two felony counts of first-degree murder and his next court date is scheduled for Dec. 13.

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