Staff Report

ROCKFORD – A 29-year-old man, on Thursday, was sentenced to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for firing a gun outside CherryVale Mall last year. 

Marchello D. Johnson was found guilty of aggravated discharge of a firearm after a jury trial in April. 

March 18, 2018, Cherry Valley Police, Rockford Police and Winnebago County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to 7200 Harrison Avenue after a report of a shooting. Officers arrived on the scene and learned shots had been fired between two vehicles outside the Barnes & Noble bookstore. Detectives conducted a follow-up investigation and developed Johnson as a suspect.

Johnson was also ordered serve two years on parole following his release from prison.