On December 27, 2024, 50-year-old Khalil Mahmood Esaw-El was shot and killed at about 3:21 p.m. inside Max Mart at 922 Kilburn Avenue in Rockford, Illinois. Rockford officers found him with multiple life-threatening gunshot wounds and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Born July 29, 1974, in Harvey, Illinois, Khalil was the son of Evie Lynch-Hakeem and Charles E. Esaw, Sr. He embraced Islam in 1992, was married to Jacki Cave Esaw, fathered seven children, worked as an over-the-road semi-truck driver and bred pit bulls. The family has launched a fundraiser to help with funeral costs and support his children.

Rockford Police Detectives and the Intelligence Unit identified 30-year-old Jovaris Porchia of Rockford as a suspect, and the Winnebago County State’s Attorney authorized two counts of First-Degree Murder; Porchia was taken into custody and lodged in the county jail. If anyone knew Khalil or has information about what happened at Max Mart that afternoon, please share what you know.