Rockford man charged in February shooting death of DeKalb man near CherryVale Mall

ROCKFORD – A 34-year-old Rockford man accused of shooting a DeKalb man outside CherryVale Mall in February has been charged with first-degree murder, according to Winnebago County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Mike Schultz.

Police said they still are piecing together why Devin L. Stevenson shot Ricky Smith, 31, of the 6200 block of Route 38, to death about 4 p.m. Feb. 23 in an SUV outside the Macy’s parking lot at the mall.

“We’re not prepared to go into a motive at this point, until we get further into court proceedings,” Schultz said, adding that others could be charged as the investigation and prosecution continues.

The rear window of the SUV was shattered near the Macy’s parking lot at 7200 Harrison Ave., police said in February. Stevenson also has been charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Stevenson has been in Winnebago County jail on $775,000 bond since May 16, on a charge of aggravated battery with a handgun – one of several cases in which he is being prosecuted.

“I don’t think he’s going to get out on any bond,” Schultz said.

Court records show Stevenson was due back in court at 2 p.m. Oct. 26, although he’ll have a hearing soon on the new charge.

Schultz said Smith’s family was notified of the charges before his office held a news conference at 10 a.m. Thursday.

“We wanted them to hear from us first before they saw it on TV,” he said.