Rockford Police find new evidence linked to San Jose Restaurant murder

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Police responded to a drive-by shooting and found the suspected dark-colored Cadillac linked to the fatal shooting of Victor Ballesteros Sr.

On June 17, around 2:41 a.m., police went to the 2000 block of Hutchins Avenue for reports of a shooting. One of the residents said he saw the house had multiple bullet holes when he went outside.

Authorities said they located 18 shell casings in front of the residence and the dark-colored Cadillac associated with the shooting in San Jose Restaurant’s parking lot on June 16th. The vehicle had blood on the inside and outside and was impounded, according to court records.

Officials used surveillance footage to see a white Volkswagen with Wisconsin plates traveling eastbound on Charles and 12th Streets. Police said they saw the same vehicle arrive at Ballesteros Sr.’s memorial in the 200 block of North Rockton Avenue on June 18, around 7 p.m.

The car was later pulled over for a traffic stop and police took the driver as well as the passenger in for questioning, according to reports. The driver told authorities she, the passenger and someone she only knew as “Kicks” were all in the Volkswagen early in the morning on June 17.

She said she drove with the passenger and “Kicks” past the residence in the 2000 block of Hutchins Avenue and no one was outside, but the second time there were multiple people outside, according to police.

Reports said “Kicks” began firing a weapon at the residence.

During investigations, Police were able to identify “Kicks” as Angel Cervantes, 25. The suspect is being charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm from a vehicle and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon without a valid FOID.

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