Shortly after 1:15 a.m. on Sunday, December 7, 2025, officers responded to the 300 block of Buckbee Street in Rockford following ShotSpotter activation and found a man on the roadway with life-threatening gunshot wounds. He was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead soon after arrival. The Winnebago County Coroner identified him as 35-year-old Tarrie Cortez Noel, a Rockford resident and father of eight. Family members said his death left a large void, and one of his children was reportedly receiving medical treatment at the time of the shooting.

Investigators processed the scene and identified a suspect. Authorities arrested 25-year-old Leavantre Vaughn of Rockford; the Winnebago County State’s Attorney charged Vaughn with four counts of first-degree murder and he was booked into the Winnebago County Jail. What did neighbors or anyone nearby see or hear that morning?