The ex-boyfriend of an Austin woman who was shot and killed during a domestic dispute in December has been charged with her slaying.
Kenneth Brown, 44, was arrested Friday in the 3100 block of West Harrison Street and charged with first-degree murder, Chicago police said.
Maria Roque, 34, was in front of her home in the 500 block of North Long Avenue when Brown allegedly fired shots at her about 6:20 a.m. Dec. 13, according to Chicago police and court records.
Roque was taken to Stroger Hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest. She was pronounced dead at 6:53 a.m., the Cook County medical examiner said.
Roque had been granted an emergency order of protection against Brown on Nov. 7. A week before that, the pair had an argument that turned physical, with Brown grabbing Roque and throwing her to the ground, according to the petition for an order of protection.
Brown also had threatened to burn Roque’s car, break her windows and destroy her belongings, relatives said.
The order of protection barred Brown from contacting Roque in any way, including entering her home, harassing, stalking or intimidating her, court records show. He was also prohibited from taking their 8-year-old daughter from her care.
That order of protection was extended Nov. 28. and once again Dec. 13, the morning of the shooting.
Before the arrest, police asked for the public’s help in finding Brown.
On Saturday morning, George McDade, chairman of the Cook County Crime Stoppers, learned of the arrest minutes before he and others were set to begin distributing flyers offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.
“Everybody was doing and cooperating, giving as much information as possible” to help police, McDade told the Sun-Times.
It’s a “sad case, but a good way to end it,” he said, referring to charges being filed.
Brown appeared in court Sunday where he was remanded to the custody of the Cook County sheriff’s office.
