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Ryan Bruce Mattingly (left) and Alijon Khalil have been indicted by a Winnebago County grand jury in the shooting death of Valentia Jovan Fresco.
By Georgette Braun
Staff writer
By Jeff Kolkey
Staff writer
Posted Jul. 7, 2016 at 1:32 PM
Updated at 5:50 PM
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — Two Metro Enforcement security guards face first-degree murder and other charges in the death of Valentia Jovan Fresco, 34, who was shot and killed April 16 at Auburn Manor Apartments, 4100 Auburn St.
Winnebago County State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato said today in a news release that Ryan Bruce Mattingly, 26, and Alijon Khalil, 28, have been indicted by a Winnebago County grand jury.
The grand jury on Wednesday issued a 27-count bill of indictment that charges both with first-degree murder, aggravated battery, mob action and unlawful restraint. The security guards are accused in the indictment of striking Fresco in the face, choking and grabbing him as they attempted to handcuff him while on a public street.
Mattingly is additionally charged with personally opening fire on Fresco.
That means Mattingly could face an additional 20 years to natural life in prison beyond the potential sentence of up to 60 years in prison for first-degree murder if found guilty.
Khalil and Mattingly were lodged in the Winnebago County Jail with bonds set at $1 million, according to the indictment.
Detectives found Fresco suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, but authorities never specified how many times he was shot.
The indictment doesn’t say whether Fresco was armed. An initial report from police at the scene in April said he had more than one handgun.
Jennifer Cacciapaglia, attorney for Metro Enforcement, said Mattingly and Khalil “remain on administrative leave.” She also said the security company “will not make any comments for the duration of the case.”
Both men are scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment at 1:30 p.m. Friday.
Fresco’s mother, Rosie Blake, expressed gratitude today that murder charges were filed and to Winnebago County State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato.
Surrounded by family in her Fenwick Close home, she said, “God is good, and he is worthy to be praised. He’s the one who has been holding me up. No mother should have to go through what I am, but I thank God for my family and friends, my church family and my family at work. I could not go through this without them.”
Fresco, who lived off and on with his mother, was at the apartment complex to celebrate his birthday with friends. He reportedly got into a confrontation with Mattingly and Khalil, who were patrolling the complex.
Fresco was a 2001 East High School graduate who was employed as CNC operator at Mid-States Production. He left behind two sons.
Friends, family members and other supporters of Fresco marched in downtown Rockford in May to demand Bruscato bring charges against the security guards, whose identities had not been released until today.