Ricky Smith, 31, of DeKalb, Illinois, was shot and killed on February 23, 2018, in the CherryVale Mall parking lot in Rockford. Smith was driving when he was struck by gunfire; his vehicle then crashed into a light pole on South Mall Drive. Police found him inside the car suffering from a gunshot wound, and he later died of his injuries.

Rockford resident Devin Stevenson, 36, was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder, Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon in connection with Smith’s death. He also faced charges for the attempted murder of Michael Cathina, who was shot in the same incident. A Winnebago County jury later found Stevenson not guilty of all charges related to Smith’s killing and the attempted murder of Cathina; Stevenson remained in custody on unrelated weapons charges.

If anyone witnessed the shooting in the CherryVale Mall lot on February 23, 2018, or has information about what happened that night, please come forward.